Preterite vs Imperfect: the event and the scene
Short answer
The preterite (indefinido) reports a finished event that moves the story forward. The imperfect describes the scene around it: background, habits, ongoing states, age, weather and time. Llovía cuando salí — it was raining (scene) when I left (event).
Level B1 · verbs, past, indefinido, imperfecto
The rule in full
Both are past. The question is not when but how you look at it.
| Indefinido | Imperfecto | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | the event | the scene |
| Action | completed, moves the story | ongoing, describes |
| Asks | what happened? | what was going on? |
| Photo / film | photo | film |
The classic pairing: the imperfecto sets the background, the indefinido interrupts it.
- Cuando salí de casa, llovía. — I left (event) while it was raining (scene).
- Estaba duchándome cuando sonó el teléfono.
Imperfecto for descriptions and repeated habits:
- Ella tenía los ojos marrones. De niño iba a la playa todos los veranos.
Indefinido for a finished sequence:
- Llegué, abrí la puerta y encendí la luz.
Same verb, different meaning
| Verb | Indefinido | Imperfecto |
|---|---|---|
| saber | supe = I found out | sabía = I knew |
| conocer | conocí = I met | conocía = I knew (a person) |
| querer | quise = I tried | quería = I wanted |
| poder | pude = I managed | podía = I was able |
Check yourself
5 questions, with the reason for each answer.
___ las ocho cuando salí.
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