Quiz on the Preterite Tense

Which of the following is an example of using the preterite to express an action that began and ended?

• Ellas bailaron.

• Ellas están bailando.

• Ellas bailarán.

• Ellas bailaban.

What does the preterite express when used with an action interrupting another action?

• The ongoing action

• The completed action

• The future action

• The hypothetical action

What does the "M" in the mnemonic "SIMBA" stand for?

• Movement

• Main Event

• Memory

• Moment

What does the "B" in the mnemonic "SIMBA" stand for?

• Beginning action

• Background action

• Brief action

• Balanced action

What is the imperfect tense used for in Spanish?

• To describe future actions

• To describe background information or repeated actions in the past

• To describe hypothetical situations

• To describe completed actions in the past

Which sentence uses the imperfect tense to describe age?

• Teníamos quince años.

• Tengo quince años.

• Tendremos quince años.

• Tuve quince años.

Which sentence uses 'was' or 'used to' to indicate an ongoing action in the past?

• Yo bailaba y cantaba.

• Yo bailé y canté.

• Yo bailaré y cantaré.

• Yo bailo y canto.

Which sentence uses 'estar' in a progressive tense?

• Estaban comiendo.

• Comieron.

• Comerán.

• Comen.

Which sentence uses 'estar' to describe an emotion?

• Ellos estaban tristes.

• Ellos son tristes.

• Ellos serán tristes.

• Ellos fueron tristes.

Which sentence uses the imperfect tense to describe a past condition?

• Ella estaba cansada.

• Ella es cansada.

• Ella será cansada.

• Ella fue cansada.