One of the biggest challenges for English speakers learning Spanish is knowing when to use the imperfect (el imperfecto) vs the preterite (el pretérito). Both describe past actions but have different meanings.
This guide breaks down the key differences with clear examples, comparison charts, and English translations so you can master these tenses like a native speaker!
When to Use Preterite vs Imperfect in Spanish
| Imperfect (El Imperfecto) | Preterite (El Pretérito) |
|---|---|
| Habitual/repeated actions “I used to eat cereal every morning.” → Yo comía cereales todas las mañanas. | Completed actions “I ate cereal this morning.” → Yo comí cereales esta mañana. |
| Ongoing past actions “She was singing when I arrived.” → Ella cantaba cuando yo llegué. | Actions with clear start/end “She sang at the concert.” → Ella cantó en el concierto. |
| Background descriptions “It was a dark and stormy night.” → Era una noche oscura y tormentosa. | Sequences of events “First I studied, then I went out.” → Primero estudié, luego salí. |
| Emotions/age/time “I was happy as a child.” → Yo era feliz de niño. | Sudden changes “I became happy when I won.” → Me alegré cuando gané. |
1. Spanish Imperfect Tense: When & How to Use It
Key Uses of the Imperfect
✅ Habitual actions (used to/would)
✅ Ongoing actions (was/were + -ing)
✅ Descriptions (age, time, weather, emotions)
✅ Setting the scene in stories
Examples with English Translations
| Spanish (Imperfecto) | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Yo jugaba fútbol todos los días. | I used to play soccer every day. |
| Ella era muy simpática cuando era niña. | She was very nice when she was a child. |
| Eran las tres de la tarde. | It was three in the afternoon. |
| Lluvia mucho cuando llegamos. | It was raining a lot when we arrived. |
📌 Tip: The imperfect is like a background setting—it tells us what was happening over time.
🔗 Want more? See our full guide on How to Use the Imperfect Tense in Spanish for conjugation rules and practice exercises.
2. Spanish Preterite Tense: When & How to Use It
Key Uses of the Preterite
✅ Completed actions (one-time events)
✅ Actions with clear start/end
✅ Sequences of events (first X happened, then Y)
✅ Sudden changes
Examples with English Translations
| Spanish (Pretérito) | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Ayer comí paella. | Yesterday, I ate paella. |
| Ellos viajaron a España el año pasado. | They traveled to Spain last year. |
| De repente, empezó a llover. | Suddenly, it started to rain. |
| Primero estudié, luego salí con amigos. | First, I studied, then I went out with friends. |
📌 Tip: The preterite is like a snapshot—it tells us what happened at a specific moment.
🔗 Need help conjugating? Check out our Preterite Tense Conjugation Guide with all the irregular verbs.
3. Imperfect vs Preterite: Direct Comparison
Same Sentence, Different Meaning
| Imperfect | Preterite |
|---|---|
| Yo vivía en Madrid. (I used to live in Madrid.) | Yo viví en Madrid. (I lived in Madrid [for a time].) |
| Ella trabajaba cuando llamé. (She was working when I called.) | Ella trabajó ayer. (She worked yesterday.) |
📊 Chart: Key Differences
| Aspect | Imperfect | Preterite |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Action | Ongoing, habitual | Completed, one-time |
| Duration | No defined end | Has clear start/end |
| Example Triggers | Siempre, a menudo, cada día | Ayer, anoche, el lunes pasado |
4. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
❌ Mistake: Using preterite for “was/were + -ing”
✅ Correction: Use imperfect for ongoing actions.
- ❌ Estudié cuando sonó el teléfono. (Incorrect)
- ✅ Estudiaba cuando sonó el teléfono. (I was studying when the phone rang.)
❌ Mistake: Using imperfect for completed actions
✅ Correction: Use preterite for finished events.
- ❌ Viajaba a México el año pasado. (Incorrect)
- ✅ Viajé a México el año pasado. (I traveled to Mexico last year.)
5. Practice Quiz (Test Your Knowledge!)
- Cuando era niño, siempre __ (jugar) en el parque.
→ Answer: jugaba (imperfect – habitual action) - Ayer, yo __ (comer) una pizza entera.
→ Answer: comí (preterite – completed action) - Mientras ella __ (leer), él __ (llegar).
→ Answer: leía, llegó (imperfect for ongoing, preterite for interruption)
📌 Want more practice? Try our Spanish Past Tenses Quiz!
Final Tips for Mastering Imperfect vs Preterite
✔ Think about duration → Was it ongoing (imperfect) or finished (preterite)?
✔ Look for trigger words → Siempre (imperfect) vs ayer (preterite)
✔ Practice with real examples → Watch Spanish shows and note tense usage
📚 More Spanish Grammar Guides
Think you’ve mastered the difference? Challenge yourself with our 15-question Imperfect vs Preterite Quiz and get instant feedback on your answers!
🇪🇸 Imperfect vs Preterite Quiz
Test your knowledge of Spanish past tenses! Read each sentence and choose whether the verb should be in the imperfect or preterite tense. Click “Show Answer” to check your understanding.
1. Cuando ___ (ser) niño, siempre ___ (jugar) en el parque.
2. Ayer, yo ___ (comer) una pizza entera.
3. Mientras ella ___ (leer), él ___ (llegar).
4. El año pasado, nosotros ___ (viajar) a España por dos semanas.
5. Cuando ___ (tener) diez años, ___ (romperse) el brazo.
6. Generalmente, ellos ___ (cenar) a las 8, pero anoche ___ (cenar) a las 10.
7. La semana pasada, tú ___ (estar) enfermo por tres días.
8. Cuando vivía en México, ___ (llover) mucho durante el verano.
9. Ayer por la noche, ___ (ver) una película muy interesante.
10. De repente, el teléfono ___ (sonar) mientras yo ___ (dormir).
11. Cada verano, mis abuelos ___ (venir) a visitarnos.
12. El mes pasado, yo ___ (empezar) a tomar clases de guitarra.
13. Cuando ___ (conocer) a mi esposa, ella ___ (trabajar) en un banco.
14. Antes ___ (haber) más árboles en este parque.
15. Ellos ___ (casarse) en 2010 y todavía ___ (estar) felices juntos.
