PRETERITE vs. IMPERFECT
 
Pretérito
Imperfecto
1.   Expresses specific actions or events in the past:

      Estuvieron contentos de verlo.
      They were glad to see him.

1.   Describes ongoing or continuous actions or events in the past:

      Estaban contentos con su casa.
      They were content with their house.

2.   Expresses a specific action or event at a specific point in time:
      
      Hoy llegó a casa temprano.
      Today he arrived home early.
      Salió a las seis de mañana.
      He left at 6 A.M.

 
2.   Describes habitual or repeated actions or events in the past:

      Llegaba temprano muy a menudo.
      He arrived early very often.

3.   States a particular action in the past:

      Tuvo un accidente.
      He had an accident.
      Hubo un choque en la intersección.
      There was a crash in the intersection.

3.   Describes the circumstances or conditions surrounding an action (background information in the past):

      La carretera era peligrosa.
      The highway was dangerous.

4.   Describes persons, things, or states of mind:

      Era muy alto.
      He was very tall.
      El cielo estaba azul.
      The sky was blue.
      Creía en Dios.
      He believed in God.

 

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