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Preterite: Imperfect or Indefinite?


There are situations in which the use of either imperfect or indefinite to express past actions is a matter of context or nuance, either choice being 'grammatically' permissible. Here, in this page, we illustrate situations in which the choice is more clear cut, the alternative grammatically incorrect or leading to an altogether different meaning.

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Grammatical Notes


Question #1 -

No lo antes; lo por primera vez esta mañana.

    sabía
    supe

    2 valid answers.
    sabía
    supe

    1 valid answer


Question #2 -

¿Es cierto que Carlos dijo: —Me voy?

Sí, Carlos dijo que se .

    va
    iba
    fue

    1 valid answer


Question #3 -

Durante la era paleozóica, que millones de años, la vida varias veces al borde de la extinción.

    duraba
    duró

    1 valid answer
    estuvo
    estaba

    1 valid answer


Question #4 -

las cinco cuando llegué.

    Eran
    Fueron

    1 valid answer


Question #5 -

que aceptaba.

    El telegrama de ayer
    El telegrama de ayer
    Ayer él
    Ayer él
    dijo
    decía
    dijo
    decía

2 valid answers. Can you find them all?


Question #6 -

Nosotros en Francia por dos años; allí frecuentemente fuera de casa.

    estuvimos
    estábamos

    1 valid answer
    comíamos
    comimos

    2 valid answers


Question #7 -

¿Quién cerró la ventana que abierta ayer por la noche?

    estaba
    estaba
    estuvo
    estuvo
    cuando llegamos
    una hora
    cuando llegamos
    una hora

3 valid answers. Can you find them all?


Question #8 -

En la Antigüedad los griegos repetidas veces contra los persas.

    luchaban
    lucharon

    1 valid answer


Question #9 -

enfermo todo el verano; pero en peligro no más que unos días.

    Estuvo
    Estaba

    1 valid answer
    estuvo
    estaba

    1 valid answer


Question #10 -

Mi hermana cuando yo cinco años.

    nació
    nacía

    1 valid answer
llohay/archive nfs bg,xattr,dev=458002d 1073649555 ellohay:/archive1 /hmt/elloha


Top



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 1



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 1



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 1



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for begining of state.

Hints?

Back to question 1



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for begining of state.

If the verbal action marks the begining of a state, the preterite is used.

Hints?

Back to question 1



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for indirect discourse.

Hints?

Back to question 2



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for indirect discourse.

Present of direct discourse switches to imperfect for past indirect discourse.

Hints?

Back to question 2



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for indirect discourse.

Hints?

Back to question 2



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 3



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 3



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 3



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 3



















































Correct!


Proper specification of time of day, calendar time, or age.

Specification of time of day or calendar date or years of age in the past use the imperfect.

Hints?

Back to question 4



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper specification of time of day, calendar time, or age.

Hints?

Back to question 4



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for 'telling' of media.

Hints?

Back to question 5



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for 'telling' of media.

When the verb expresses that a 'media' (letter, telegram, radio, etc.) is 'saying' something, the imperfect is used.

Hints?

Back to question 5



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 5



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 5



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 6



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 6



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 6



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 6



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 7



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 7



















































One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


Plausible optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Hints?

Back to question 7



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 7



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 8



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 8



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 9



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 9



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Hints?

Back to question 9



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

Hints?

Back to question 9



















































Correct!


Proper verb use for begining of state.

If the verbal action marks the begining of a state, the preterite is used.

Hints?

Back to question 10



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper verb use for begining of state.

Hints?

Back to question 10



















































Not a valid choice.


Improper specification of time of day, calendar time, or age.

Hints?

Back to question 10



















































Correct!


Proper specification of time of day, calendar time, or age.

Specification of time of day or calendar date or years of age in the past use the imperfect.

Hints?

Back to question 10



















































Grammatical notes for the drills in this page.


There are situations in which the use of either imperfect or indefinite to express past actions is a matter of context or nuance, either choice being 'grammatically' permissible. Here, in this page, we illustrate situations in which the choice is more clear cut, the alternative grammatically incorrect or leading to an altogether different meaning.

The items covered are:


1) The specification of time of day, calendar time, or age.

Specification of time of day or calendar date or years of age in the past use the imperfect.

Examples: Quest. 4 Quest. 10


2) The verb use for indirect discourse.

Present of direct discourse switches to imperfect for past indirect discourse.

Examples: Quest. 2


3) The verb use for 'telling' of media.

When the verb expresses that a 'media' (letter, telegram, radio, etc.) is 'saying' something, the imperfect is used.

Examples: Quest. 5


4) The verb use for actions refered to a defined period of time.

If the time in which the action took place is specifically defined, the preterite is used, whether the time span is an instant or eons.

Examples: Quest. 3 Quest. 5 Quest. 6 Quest. 7 Quest. 8 Quest. 9


5) The verb use for begining of state.

If the verbal action marks the begining of a state, the preterite is used.

Examples: Quest. 1 Quest. 10


6) The optional verb use dependent on context.

This is a situation not covered in this page. Please consult appropriate drill page.

Examples: Quest. 1 Quest. 6 Quest. 7

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Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.

The text and the HTML formatting of these drills is covered by this copyright. One copy of this drill can be downloaded and/or printed for personal use. Unauthorized commercial use of these drills is forbidden, as well as reloading on servers or republishing under unauthorized URL addresses.


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