Preterit
1. For actions that can be viewed as single events
2. For actions that were repeated a specific number of times
3. For actions that occurred during a specific period of time
4. For actions that were part of a chain of events
5. To state the beginning or the end of an action
Imperfect
1. For actions that were repeated habitually
2. For actions that "set the stage" for another past action
3. For telling time
4. For stating one's age
5. For mental states (usually)
6. For physical sensations (usually)
7. To describe the characteristics of people, things or conditions
PRETERIT Conjugations
Singular
1st person (yo) -ar...é -er/-ir...í
2nd person (tú) -ar...aste -er/-ir...iste
3rd person (él, ella, Ud) -ar...ó -er/-ir...ió
Plural
1st person (nosotros(as)) -ar...amos -er/-ir...imos
2nd person (vosotros(as)) -ar...asteis -er/-ir...isteis
3rd person (ellos, ellas, Uds.) -ar...aron -er/-ir...ieron
IMPERFECT Conjugations
Singular
1st person (yo) -ar...aba -er/-ir...ía
2nd person (tú) -ar...abas -er/-ir...ías
3rd person (él, ella, Ud) -ar...aba -er/-ir...ía
Plural
1st person (nosotros(as)) -ar...abamos -er/-ir...íamos
2nd person (vosotros(as)) -ar...abais -er/-ir...íais
3rd person (ellos, ellas, Uds.) -ar...aban -er/-ir...ían
