Final answer:
The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions in the past, while the imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
Step-by-step explanation:
The preterite tense and the imperfect tense are both past tense verb forms in Spanish, but they have different uses.
The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions in the past, while the imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
The preterite tense is often used to narrate events or state specific past actions with a definite beginning and end, while the imperfect tense is used to provide background information, describe past habits, or set the scene in the past.