Preterite & Imperfect Tenses in Spanish
Both the preterite and imperfect are used to talk about the past in Spanish. Which one you choose depends on the meaning you want to convey. Use these mnemonics to know exactly when to reach for each tense.
Quick refresher: review the full preterite conjugations and the imperfect conjugations.
Uses of the Preterite
The acronym SAFE can be used to help determine when the preterite should be used.
| S | specific – certain time or number of times | Ella llamó tres veces. She called three times. |
| A | action – interrupts ongoing actions | Estaba leyendo cuando sonó el teléfono. I was reading when the phone rang. |
| F | focused – definite beginning and/or end to an action | El concierto empezó a las 7 en punto. The concert began at 7 on the dot. Terminaron el examen temprano. They finished the test early. |
| E | enclosed – limited or completed time frame | Vivieron en Europa por 15 años. They lived in Europe for 15 years. |
The acronym SPICY can be used also…
| S | Specific – certain time or number of times | Ella llamó tres veces. She called three times. |
| P | Past action that occurred one time | Nosotros fuimos al concierto. We went to the concert. |
| I | Interrupting actions | Estaba leyendo cuando sonó el teléfono. I was reading when the phone rang. |
| C | Completed time frame | Vivieron en Europa por 15 años. They lived in Europe for 15 years. |
| Y | Yesterday (and other past-tense trigger words) | Ayer desayuné huevos. Yesterday I ate eggs for breakfast. |
Uses of the Imperfect
The acronym DUWIT can be used to help determine when the imperfect should be used.
| D | description – describe people or events in the past with no specific beginning or end | Hacía mucho viento y llovía. It was very windy and raining. Cuando era niña, era muy tímida. When I was young I was very shy. |
| U | used to – habitual actions in the past | Viajábamos a la playa cada verano. We used to travel to the beach every summer. Tocaba el piano pero ya no. She used to play the piano but not any more. |
| W | was doing – ongoing actions, often used with estar | Estaba preparando la cena y mis amigos estaban hablando. I was preparing dinner and my friends were talking. Juan leía el periódico mientras Carmen leía una novela. Juan was reading the newspaper while Carmen was reading a novel. |
| I | inside feelings – emotions | Estaban muy enojados conmigo. They were really mad at me. |
| T | time – also for weather and age | Eran las 5 de la tarde. It was 5 in the afternoon. Cuando yo tenía 18 años practicaba fútbol. I played soccer when I was 18. |
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