10.9: Pretérito e imperfecto IV
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Objetivos
- Integrate the various uses of preterit and imperfect in complete narrations
Now that we have come to the end of the unit on the differences between preterit and imperfect, let’s combine our knowledge and review how the two tenses are used to create complete narrations:
| When to use the imperfect: | When to use the preterit: |
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| Key words for the imperfect: | Key words for the preterit: |
Understanding the subtle differences between these two tenses will help you understand that non-action verbs change meaning when used in the imperfect or the preterit.
Ejemplos:
- Hacía más frío durante los inviernos cuando yo era joven. En las celebraciones navideñas del 2015 hizo tanto calor en Nueva York que todos llevábamos pantalones cortos. ( It was colder in the winter when I was young. And in Christmas of 2015 it was so hot out in New York that we were all wearing shorts. )
- La niña pequeña quería asistir a la fiesta de quince años de su prima, pero cuando empezó la música se sintió cohibida y no quiso salir a bailar. ( The little girl wanted to attend her cousin’s quinceañera party, but when the music started she felt shy and declined to get out and dance. )