Spanish Preterite vs. Imperfect: Concept

After learning the conjugations for the preterite and imperfect tenses, students should focus on understanding the different applications of each. In this activity, students will create a T chart that illustrates examples of when the preterite and imperfect tenses are used.

Since there is some overlap among categories on each side, you may want to clarify which ones you would like students to target. For example, specifying a defined time-frame for preterite, or a routine action for imperfect. The example storyboard describes the broadest categories, and can be used as a reference.

Alternate activity 1: Students create a storyboard to focus solely on preterite

Alternate activity 2: Students create a storyboard to focus solely on imperfect

Student Instructions

Create a T Chart that illustrates different uses of the preterite and imperfect tenses in Spanish. Remember, the preterite deals with completed and incomplete actions, where the imperfect deals with interrupting and interrupted actions, repeated/habitual Actions, and descriptions.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Label the columns "Preterite" and "Imperfect".
3. In each cell header, identify the different uses of each tense.
4. In the description, write a sentence using the correct tense.
5. Create an illustration for each using appropriate scenes, items, and characters.
6. Save and exit when you're done.