What's the difference between the preterite and imperfect tenses?

The preterite and imperfect tenses are both past tenses in Spanish, but they are used in different contexts and convey different aspects of past actions.

Preterite Tense:

1. Completed Actions:

   • Used for actions that are viewed as completed or finished in the past.
     • Example: "Comí una pizza anoche." (I ate a pizza last night.)

2. Specific Time in the Past:

   • Used for actions that occurred at a specific point in time.
     • Example: "Empezaron las clases a las 8 de la mañana." (Classes started at 8 in the morning.)

3. Series of Completed Actions:

   • Used for a series of completed actions in the past.
     • Example: "Estudié, practiqué y gané el juego." (I studied, practiced, and won the game.)

4. Interrupted Actions:

   • Used for actions that were interrupted by another event.
     • Example: "Ella hablaba por teléfono cuando llegué." (She was talking on the phone when I arrived.)

Imperfect Tense:

1. Background or Setting:

   • Used to describe the background or setting of a scene in the past.
     • Example: "Era un día soleado." (It was a sunny day.)

2. Habitual Actions:

   • Used for actions that were habitual or repeated in the past.
     • Example: "Íbamos al parque todos los domingos." (We used to go to the park every Sunday.)

3. Descriptions:

   • Used for descriptions, including physical and emotional states.
     • Example: "Tenía hambre." (I was hungry.)

4. Simultaneous Actions:

   • Used for actions that were happening simultaneously in the past.
     • Example: "Mientras estudiaba, mi hermana jugaba." (While I was studying, my sister was playing.)

Comparison:

• Preterite: Focuses on completed, specific, and one-time actions in the past.
• Imperfect: Focuses on ongoing, habitual, or background actions, providing context and describing the setting.

Example Sentences:

• Preterite: "Ayer fui al cine." (Yesterday, I went to the movies.)
• Imperfect: "Cuando era niño, jugaba en el parque todos los días." (When I was a child, I used to play in the park every day.)

Remember that the choice between the preterite and imperfect tenses depends on the specific nature of the action and the context in which it is being described. Both tenses are essential for conveying a complete picture of past events in Spanish.