Past-Tense Stories
Preterite vs imperfect the natural way - telling stories about what happened
Sample cards
Ayer fui al mercado.
Yesterday I went to the market. (preterite: completed event)
Cuando era niño/a, vivía con mis abuelos.
When I was a kid, I lived with my grandparents. (imperfect: ongoing past)
Estaba lloviendo cuando llegué.
It was raining when I arrived. (imperfect scene + preterite event)
Conocí a su familia el sábado.
I met his family on Saturday. (preterite: first time)
Antes no me gustaba el picante.
I didn't use to like spicy food. (imperfect: used to)
¿Qué hiciste el fin de semana?
What did you do over the weekend? (preterite)
Fuimos a la playa y comimos mariscos.
We went to the beach and ate seafood. (preterite chain)
Todos los veranos íbamos a Acapulco.
Every summer we used to go to Acapulco. (imperfect: habitual)
8 of 18 cards shown.