Answer:
The preterite and imperfect tenses are both past tenses in Spanish, but they are used to convey different aspects of past actions or events.
The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions or events that happened at a specific point in time. It is often used to talk about actions that have a clear beginning and end. For example:
- Ayer fui al cine. (Yesterday, I went to the movies.)
- Comí pizza para la cena. (I ate pizza for dinner.)
On the other hand, the imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the scene or provide background information. It is often used to talk about actions that do not have a specific beginning or end. For example:
- Cuando era niño, jugaba al fútbol todos los días. (When I was a child, I used to play soccer every day.)
- Hacía sol y los pájaros cantaban. (It was sunny, and the birds were singing.)
To help remember the difference between the preterite and imperfect tenses, you can use the acronym "WATERS" which stands for:
- W: Weather (Hacía sol - It was sunny)
- A: Age (Cuando era niño - When I was a child)
- T: Time (Ayer - Yesterday)
- E: Emotion (Estaba feliz - I was happy)
- R: Repetition (Jugaba al fútbol todos los días - I used to play soccer every day)
- S: Setting (En el parque - In the park)
By considering these factors, you can determine whether to use the preterite or imperfect tense in your sentences. However, it's important to note that this acronym is just a helpful tool and not an absolute rule. Context and meaning should always guide your choice of tense.