The Spanish Preterite (
This article will explain the main uses of the Spanish Preterite tense. It will also help you talk about the past in Spanish with confidence.
To start reviewing the uses of the Spanish Preterite, it is important to point out that in Spanish there are two simple past tenses: Preterite and Imperfect (
Past Actions
You should use the Preterite to describe actions that happened in a certain moment of the past. This action started and ended in the past.
Ayer mis hermanos visitaron a mis abuelos en Salamanca.
Yesterday my brothers visited my grandparents in Salamanca.
La semana pasada nosotras no compramos fresas.
Last week we didn’t buy strawberries.
En junio yo no trabajé porque estuve de baja.
In June I didn’t work because I was on leave.
Anoche conociste a los padres de tu novio.
Last night you met your boyfriend’s parents.
Adverbs of time that are used with the Spanish Preterite include
Sequence of Past Actions
You can also use the Preterite to describe a sequence of past actions or events that occurred one after another. It means that one action started and ended before the following action began.
Me levanté a las siete y media, fui a la cocina y desayuné con Juan.
I woke up at half past seven, I went to the kitchen and I had breakfast with Juan.
El jueves pasado compré los billetes y subí al tren antes de las tres.
Last Thursday I bought the tickets and get on the train before three o’clock.
Cortaste las patatas, las pusiste en una bandeja y las metiste al horno.
You cut the potatoes, put them on a tray and put them on the oven.
Ayer llegué tarde a casa, encendí la tele y me quedé dormida.
Yesterday I arrived home late, turned on the TV and fell asleep.
Biographies
The Preterite is also used to talk about biographies or past stories. With this use, we have finished reviewing the main uses of the Spanish Preterite.
Mi escritor favorito nació en Barcelona.
My favorite writer was born in Barcelona.
Después de publicar su primer libro, se mudó a México.
After publishing his first book, he moved to México.
Su primer libro tuvo mucho éxito gracias al boca a boca.
His first book was very successful by word of mouth.
Murió en un pueblo pequeño cerca de Madrid.
He died in a small town near Madrid.
Preterite vs. Imperfect
The uses of the Spanish Preterite are sometimes confused with the uses of the Imperfect. The Preterite refers to an action that started and finished in the past and it is usually translated with the English Past Simple. However, the Imperfect refers to an action that was in progress in the past.
Let’s see two sentences to help you understand the uses of the Spanish Preterite and the Imperfect tenses.
Hacía mis ejercicios de yoga cuando Roberto me llamó.
I was doing my yoga exercises when Roberto called me.
Mis primos se encontraron con Ana cuando paseaban por el parque.
My cousins bumped into Ana when they were having a walk in the park.
Exercises
Let’s practice the uses of the Spanish Preterite with these exercises.