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Imperfect and preterite: past tenses

Brief explanation about the differences and uses of the past tense imperfect and preterite.

Gramática: Imperfecto e indefinido: tiempos del pasado

B1 Spanish Contrast imperfect past and simple past

Level: B1

Module 2: Medios de comunicación cotidianos (Everyday media)

Lesson 11: Radio y podcasts (Radio and podcasts)

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Audio and video

Audio with translations

  1. Use the imperfecto for ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
  2. Use the indefinido for actions completed in the past.
  3. For regular verbs ending in -ar, the imperfecto adds the endings: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
  4. For regular verbs ending in -er/-ir, the imperfecto adds the endings: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
  5. For regular verbs ending in -ar, the indefinido is conjugated with the endings: é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron.
  6. For regular verbs ending in -er/-ir, the indefinido is conjugated with the endings: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron .
Tiempo verbal pasadoUsoEjemplo
ImperfectoDescripciones/rutinasEsta emisora era mi favorita porque emitía programas muy entretenidos. (This station was my favourite because it broadcast very entertaining programmes.)
Acciones en progreso/habitualesAntes escuchaba la radio mientras hacía la tarea. (Before, I listened to the radio while I did my homework.)
Estado/condición/tiempoLas radios antiguas eran muy grandes y pesadas. (Old radios were very large and heavy.)
IndefinidoAcciones completadasEl locutor comunicó una noticia importante ayer durante el podcast. (The announcer announced an important piece of news yesterday during the podcast.)
Eventos específicos/expresiones de tiempoEl canal emitió una entrevista exclusiva el sábado pasado. (The channel broadcast an exclusive interview last Saturday.)
Acciones que interrumpen otrasEstaba escuchando mi episodio favorito cuando mi hermano llegó a casa. (I was listening to my favourite episode when my brother arrived home.)

Exercise 1: Imperfect and preterite: past tenses

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

escuché, comunicó, escuchábamos, Eran, emitió, comunicaba, fue, emitía

1. Emitir:
La emisora ... música clásica todos los días.
(The radio station broadcasted classical music every day.)
2. Ser:
... las cinco cuando comenzaron a emitir el programa.
(It was five o'clock when they started broadcasting the programme.)
3. Ser:
El año pasado este audiolibro ... mi favorito.
(Last year this audiobook was my favourite.)
4. Comunicar:
El locutor ... la noticia del premio ayer.
(The announcer communicated the news about the prize yesterday.)
5. Escuchar:
Siempre ... la radio por la mañana juntos.
(We always used to listen to the radio in the morning together.)
6. Escuchar:
El año pasado yo ... una entrevista muy entretenida.
(Last year I listened to a very entertaining interview.)
7. Comunicar:
Antes el podcast ... las noticias todos los domingos.
(Previously, the podcast used to report the news every Sunday.)
8. Emitir:
El canal ... un anuncio importante anoche.
(The channel broadcast an important announcement last night.)

Exercise 2: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

comunicó

he announced

2

transmitió

broadcasted

3

emitía

was broadcasting

4

escuché

I listened

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