El preterito vs el imperfecto

Actions that can be viewed as single events

• preterite
• imperfect

Giving background information.

• imperfect
• preterite

Actions that were repeated a certain number of times.

• imperfect
• preterite

Actions that were repeated habitually.

• imperfect
• preterite

Actions that were part of a chain of events.

• preterite
• imperfect

Actions that were in progress.

• preterite
• imperfect

physical or emotional states of being in the past.

• preterite
• imperfect

Stating age in the past.

• preterite
• imperfect

Stating the beginning or the end of an action.

• preterite
• imperfect

Telling time in the past.

• imperfect
• preterite