Learn
The indicative mode (indicativo) is used to express that world of reality: what is (present tense), what was (past tense), what will be (future tense).
Present tense
Past imperfect tense (imperfecto)
Past perfect tense (pretérito)
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Present tense
- The present tense (presente) is used to express actions that take place at the moment of speaking. For example: Juanita canta una canción. Juanita sings a song.
- It is used to express actions that take place frequently. For example: Lydia nunca come por la mañana. Lydia never eats in the morning.
- It can be used to express future actions. For example: El verano que viene mis amigos se van de vacaciones a los Estados Unidos. Next summer my friends are going for holiday to the United States.
Past imperfect tense (imperfecto)
- The préterito imperfecto is used to describe an action that started in the past without indicating if it is finished or not. For Example: Yo caminaba en el parque. I walked in the park.
- It is used to talk about habitual actions in the past. For example: Pepe leía muchos tebeos cuando era pequeño. Pepe used to read a lot of comics when he was young.
- It is used for details like: time, location, hour, year, feelings, mental and physical aspects.
- Hacía frío durante la noche. It was cold during the night.
Past perfect tense (pretérito)
- It is used to express actions in the past. These actions are always finished.¿Qué pasó? What happened?
- NOTE: There are words associated with the pretérito: ayer (yesterday), anteayer (the day before yesterday), anoche (last night), una vez (one time), dos veces (two times), la semana pasada (last week), etc. Mi hermano llegó ayer. My brother arrived yesterday.
- You can find both pretérito and imperfecto in the same sentence. Cuando navegábamos el domingo pasado nos cayó un chaparrón enorme. When we were sailing last Sunday an enormous rain shower fell over us.
¡OJO! Remember our WATERS acronym. Here is an image to remind you...
Practice
1) Complete these three activities to practice when to use pretérito vs. imperfecto.
2) Translate the sentences on the attached sheet.
usingcorrectverbtensetranslations.docx | |
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