Talking about the past
pretérito perfecto, indefinido and imperfecto.
15 minutes · A free lesson from A2: La vida diaria (daily life) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
- Pretérito indefinido — finished events at a finished time: Ayer comí paella. En 2019 fui a Madrid.
Pretérito indefinido Say prehtehreetoh eendehfeeneedoh پرےتےریتو ایندےفینیدو Means: the preterite (the simple past) Ayer comí paella. En 2019 fui a Madrid. Say ayehr kohmee paehya. ehn dohs meel dyehtheenwehbeh fwee a madreed. ایےر کومی پاےیا. اےن دوس میل دیےثینوےبے فوی ا مادرید. Means: Yesterday I ate paella. In 2019 I went to Madrid. - Pretérito perfecto — in Spain, events in a time that is not over (hoy, esta semana) and experiences (alguna vez, nunca): Hoy he trabajado mucho.
Pretérito perfecto Say prehtehreetoh pehrfehktoh پرےتےریتو پےرفےکتو Means: the present perfect (I have done) hoy, esta semana Say oy, ehsta sehmana اوئی, اےستا سےمانا Means: today, this week alguna vez, nunca Say algoona behth, noonka الگُونا بےث, نُونکا Means: ever, never Hoy he trabajado mucho. Say oy eh trabakhadoh moochoh. اوئی اے تراباخادو مُوچو. Means: Today I have worked a lot. - Pretérito imperfecto — background, description and habits: Cuando era pequeño, jugaba al fútbol.
Pretérito imperfecto Say prehtehreetoh eempehrfehktoh پرےتےریتو ایمپےرفےکتو Means: the imperfect (was doing, used to do) Cuando era pequeño, jugaba al fútbol. Say kwandoh ehra pehkehnyoh, khoogaba al footbohl. کواندو اےرا پےکےنیو, خُوگابا ال فُوتبول. Means: When I was little, I used to play football.
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Which tense describes a habit in the past: “Cuando era pequeño, jugaba al fútbol”?
- The indefinido
- The imperfecto
- The perfecto
Show the answer
B: The imperfecto — The imperfecto gives background, description and habits.
Quick check: Which tense does Spain use with “hoy” and “esta semana”?
- The pretérito perfecto: he trabajado
- The imperfecto: trabajaba
- The present: trabajo
Show the answer
A: The pretérito perfecto: he trabajado — In most of Latin America the indefinido is used here instead: hoy trabajé. Both are correct.
Quick check: What does “En 2019 fui a Madrid” mean?
- In 2019 I was living in Madrid.
- I have been to Madrid since 2019.
- In 2019 I went to Madrid.
Show the answer
C: In 2019 I went to Madrid. — fui is the indefinido of ir: a finished event at a finished time.
Quick check: Which variety of Spanish does the DELE accept?
- Only the Spanish of Spain
- Only Latin American Spanish
- Any standard variety
Show the answer
C: Any standard variety — Write the Spanish you know well, from Spain or Latin America, and keep to it.
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