Pretérito vs Imperfecto

Yo limpiaba la casa cuando el teléfono sonó. Why imperfect (limpiaba) and then preterite (sonó)?

• Habituation and Completed past action

• Preterite interrupts the imperfect

• Preterite set the scene

Which of the following is not a use of the imperfect?

• location

• emotional state

• age

• definite end time

Which of the following is not a use of the imperfect?

• location

• emotional state

• age

• definite end time

Determined start or end time

• preterite

• imperfect

Pedo no era niño aventurero, pero un día él trepó a un árbol.

• Preterite: one time event

• Preterite: start of something

• Imperfect: time

• Imperfect: description

¡Yo estaba muy feliz cuando mis padres me compraron un coche cuando cumplí 16 años!

• Preterite: interrupting action

• Imperfect: inside feeling/emotion

• Preterite: completed actiob

• Imperfect: age

Anoche el piloto voló por cinco horas a Costa Rica.

• Imperfect: description

• Preterite: completed action/specific time frame

• Preterite: finish of something

• Imperfect: was gonna

The___implies that the past action had a definite beginning and definite end.

• imperfect
• preterite

Which past tense is used for single, completed actions?

• pretérito

• imperfecto

Which past tense is used for repeated or habitual actions?

• pretérito

• imperfecto