When describing past actions, there are some words and expressions of time that are useful. These words and phrases will help you answer the question When did it happen? and remind you to use the past tense.
Adverbs – Describing Past Actions
Adverbs and other expressions of time are a good way of describing past actions. They can tell you when an action happened, for how long or even how often. The following words are extremely common in Spanish.
Ayer (yesterday)
Ayer, en su boda, cantaron y bailaron más que nunca.
Yesterday, at their wedding, they sang and danced more than ever.
Ayer falté a la clase de química. No me gusta el profesor.
Yesterday I missed chemistry class. I don’t like the teacher.
Anoche (last night)
Anoche no me gustó la cena. Vosotros la preparasteis demasiado rápido.
I did not like dinner last night. You prepared it too quickly.
Anoche besé a la chica más guapa del instituto. Me estoy enamorando de ella.
Last night I kissed the cutest girl in high school. I’m falling in love with her.
Anteayer (the day before yesterday)
In Mexico, they would say
Mi hijo lloró anteayer, y lloró todo el día. (ES)
Mi hijo lloró antier, y lloró todo el día. (MX)
My son cried the day before yesterday, and he cried all day.
El … pasado (last…)
Mis primos fueron al centro de Madrid el año pasado.
My cousins went to the center of Madrid last year.
Un extraño me tocó una canción en la calle el miércoles pasado.
A stranger played me a song on the street last Wednesday.
La primavera pasada celebraron su aniversario de boda.
Last spring they celebrated their wedding anniversary.
La semana pasada acepté tu ayuda. Esta vez quiero resolverlo sola.
Last week I accepted your help. This time I want to sort it by myself.
Hace … (…ago)
El profesor explicó los verbos en francés hace cinco días.
The teacher explained the verbs in French five days ago.
Yo apagué la música hace un rato. Vamos a descansar del ruido.
I turned the music off a while ago. We will rest from the noise.
Hace unas horas, llegó una carta de la embajada de Italia.
A few hours ago, a letter from the Italian embassy arrived.
Tus primos compraron esa casa hace tres años.
Your cousins bought that house three years ago.
Una vez (once)
Ellos viajaron en un barco de vela una vez.
They traveled in a sailboat once.
Una vez llenamos la bañera de zumo de piña, y mi madre se enfadó.
We filled the bathtub with pineapple juice once, and my mom got upset.
Exercises
Here are some exercises to practice adverbs or other phrases that are used while describing past actions.