Pretérito
una vez · it happened, it's done
Use it when: once, it happened and it's done.
From the song
- y de repente llamó mi jefe,
- cuando llegó su ex y nos vio,
- pero el mes pasado fui solo una vez,
- pero un día dije: ¡Basta ya!
A2Song 06Elementary3:28Out Wed 7 Oct, 16:00 UK
Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect Song
Pasó or Pasaba?
Learn when to use the Spanish preterite (pretérito) and the imperfect (imperfecto) in one song. The preterite is a dot on the timeline: it happened once, and it's done. The imperfect is a line: the background, what was going on, and habits (used to).
Pretérito
Once, it happened and it's done
“y de repente llamó mi jefe”
Imperfecto
The background, what was going on, or a habit
“Antes iba al gimnasio cada día”
New song · out on YouTube
Wed 7 Oct, 16:00 UK
Chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:11Estribillo (chorus)
- 0:48Interrumpido
- 1:09Estribillo (chorus)
- 1:45Costumbre o una vez
- 2:25Palabras clave
- 2:42Estribillo final (chorus)
Lyrics · Spanish, then English
The grammar
¿Pretérito o imperfecto?
Imperfecto
el fondo, la costumbre · was going on, used to
Use it when: the background, what was going on, or a habit.
From the song
- Estaba en la ducha a las siete,
- Hablaba con Ana en un bar,
- Antes iba al gimnasio cada día,
- Trabajaba siempre hasta las diez,
Step by step through the song
Interrumpido
What was going on → imperfecto · what happened → pretérito
Costumbre o una vez
Habits, used to → imperfecto · once → pretérito
Palabras clave
ayer, anoche, una vez → pretérito · siempre, antes, mientras → imperfecto
Practice
Test yourself
Once, or going on in the background? Choose the preterite or the imperfect.
1. en la ducha a las siete,
I was in the shower at seven,
2.y de repente mi jefe.
and suddenly my boss called.
3. con Ana en un bar,
I was talking to Ana in a bar,
4.cuando su ex y nos vio.
when her ex arrived and saw us.
5.Antes al gimnasio cada día,
I used to go to the gym every day,
6.pero el mes pasado solo una vez.
but last month I only went once.
7. siempre hasta las diez,
I always used to work until ten,
8.pero un día : ¡Basta ya!
but one day I said: That's enough!
0 of 8 answered
Your turn
What were you doing at seven this morning? Write one sentence in Spanish
For example: «Estaba en la ducha cuando llamó mi jefe.»
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