Preterite vs. Imperfect

Front

Done and over with at a completed time

Back

preterite

Front

Determined start or end time

Back

preterite

Front

habitual past action

Back

imperfect

Front

setting the scene of a story

Back

imperfect

Front

telling what was happening (no reference to beginning or ending - "I was walking")

Back

imperfect

Front

Interrupts the other tense (I was studying when the phone rang)

Back

preterite

Front

Ayer, yo _______ una hamburguesa.

Back

comí

Front

Muchas veces, yo _______ una hamburguesa.

Back

comía

Front

El verano pasado nosotros ________ un viaje.

Back

hicimos

Front

Todos los veranos, nosotros _________ un viaje.

Back

hacíamos