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Quizzes > Foreign Languages

Preterite vs Imperfect Test: Choose the Right Past Tense

20 quick questions for imperfect vs preterite practice. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Miken MillerUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 10
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art promoting a Spanish tense differentiation trivia quiz for high school students.

This preterite vs imperfect test helps you choose the right past tense in Spanish. Answer 20 quick questions with clear examples and get instant results to see what you know and what to review. Exploring more Spanish grammar? Practice with the ser vs estar test, sharpen decisions with the por vs para test, and strengthen sentence control through subjunctive vs indicative practice.

Anoche, yo ____ a mi abuela por teléfono.
llamaré (future, not past)
llamo (present, not past)
llamé (correct: completed action at a specific time)
llamaba (ongoing/habitual, not a single completed call)
undefined
Cuando era niño, nosotros siempre ____ al parque los domingos.
fuimos (completed occurrence, not habitual)
íbamos (correct: habitual action in the past)
iremos (future)
vamos (present)
undefined
Ayer a las tres, Marta ____ su tarea y luego salió.
terminaba (ongoing background, time-bound completion is needed)
terminó (correct: completed action with specific time)
termina (present)
terminará (future)
undefined
El lunes pasado, ¿tú ____ al médico?
vas (present)
fuiste (correct: single completed visit)
ibas (ongoing intention/habit, not a one-time visit)
irás (future)
undefined
Cuando ____ ocho años, me gustaban los dinosaurios.
tengo (present)
tenía (correct: age in the past uses imperfect)
tuve (completed event; age is descriptive)
tendré (future)
undefined
El año pasado, nosotros ____ un viaje a Perú.
hacíamos (habitual or ongoing, not a single trip)
hacemos (present)
haremos (future)
hicimos (correct: completed trip)
undefined
De repente, ellos ____ la verdad.
sabrán (future)
sabían (knew, ongoing state, not sudden)
saben (present)
supieron (correct: found out, preterite for realization)
undefined
Mientras yo ____ la cena, mi hermano puso la mesa.
he preparado (present perfect, not narrative past)
preparé (completed, would clash with mientras)
preparo (present)
preparaba (correct: ongoing background action)
undefined
Siempre ____ chocolate caliente cuando nevaba.
beberé (future)
bebo (present)
bebía (correct: habitual past action)
bebí (single event, not habitual)
undefined
Ayer, Juan no ____ entrar porque no tuvo la llave.
pudo (correct: managed/failed to, completed attempt)
podía (was able to, ongoing capacity, not outcome)
podrá (future)
puede (present)
undefined
Cuando sonó el teléfono, nosotros ____ la televisión.
vemos (present)
vimos (completed, not background)
veremos (future)
veíamos (correct: ongoing action interrupted)
undefined
El sábado pasado, él me ____ pero yo no escuché el mensaje.
dejaba de (phrasal mismatch)
dejaba (ongoing/habitual, but context is single)
dejó (correct: completed action in the past)
dejo (missing accent; also present)
undefined
Ayer por la mañana, nosotros ____ por dos horas.
estudiamos
estudiábamos
estudiaremos
estudiaremos
undefined
Cuando vivíamos en Madrid, mi hermano ____ a la escuela a pie todos los días.
va (present)
iba (correct: habitual while background setting)
fue y volvía (mix of aspects; ambiguous)
fue (single completed)
undefined
Yo ____ ayudar, pero no pude encontrar el lugar.
quiero (present)
quería (correct: mental state/intent in the past)
querré (future)
quise (tried/decided at a point; sentence stresses ongoing desire)
undefined
El partido no ____ porque empezó a llover fuerte.
continuaba (ongoing)
continuaba a (incorrect construction)
continúa (present)
continuó (correct: did not continue; completed decision)
undefined
Ayer, por tres horas, ellos ____ en la biblioteca.
estudiaron (correct: enclosed duration)
estudiaban (ongoing without clear limits)
estudian (present)
han estudiado (present perfect; regionally acceptable but not target)
undefined
El corazón de Ana ____ rápido cuando vio al perro.
latirá (future)
latía (correct: background physiological state)
latió (sudden single beat; context suggests ongoing)
late (present)
undefined
Hubo se usa para describir el clima de fondo en una narración extensa.
True
False (correct: clima de fondo suele usar imperfecto: hacía, estaba)
undefined
Estuvo enfermo toda la semana es más natural que estaba enfermo toda la semana para un estado continuo.
True
False (correct: para un estado continuo de fondo, estaba es más natural)
undefined
0

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify the differences between preterite and imperfect tenses in Spanish.
  2. Analyze sentences to determine the correct tense based on context.
  3. Apply appropriate conjugation rules for the preterite and imperfect forms.
  4. Evaluate narrative situations to choose the accurate tense usage.
  5. Enhance overall Spanish grammar skills through targeted practice exercises.

Preterite vs Imperfect Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the Preterite Tense - The preterite tense is your go‑to for actions that started and finished in the past. Picture "Fui al baile anoche" ("I went to the dance last night") - it's a one‑and‑done event! Level up your knowledge .
  2. Embrace the Imperfect Tense - Use the imperfect tense to describe ongoing, habitual, or background actions in the past. For example, "Caminaba por el centro cuando vi a mi amiga" ("I was walking downtown when I saw my friend") shows an action in progress. Get more tips .
  3. Spot Preterite Trigger Words - Look for time markers like "ayer" (yesterday), "anoche" (last night), and "el año pasado" (last year) to flag completed actions. These little clues help you pick preterite without overthinking. Find a full list .
  4. Identify Imperfect Trigger Words - Words such as "a menudo" (often), "siempre" (always) and "cada día" (every day) hint at habitual or ongoing past actions. Spotting these will steer you toward the imperfect tense every time. Check examples .
  5. Conjugate Regular -ar Verbs in Preterite - Practice with "hablar": hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablaron. Regular patterns make memorization a breeze - just swap the endings! See conjugation charts .
  6. Conjugate Regular -er and -ir Verbs in Preterite - Try "correr": corrí, corriste, corrió, corrimos, corrieron. Once you've got one group down, the other follows easily with the same logic. Practice drills available .
  7. Watch Meaning-Changing Verbs - Verbs like "conocer" and "saber" can flip meaning between tenses. "Conocía" means "I knew," while "conocí" means "I met." Dive into more contrasts .
  8. Set the Scene with the Imperfect - Use the imperfect to paint backgrounds, describe weather, times, and ongoing states. "Era un día lluvioso y eran las tres de la tarde" brings your story to life. Read deeper explanations .
  9. Narrate Sequences in the Preterite - String together completed actions: "Caminé al mercado, compré plátanos y regresé a casa." It's like telling a story one clear-cut event at a time. Explore more examples .
  10. Practice Distinguishing Tenses - Drill yourself by labeling sentences: is the action complete (preterite) or ongoing/habitual (imperfect)? Regular practice turns these choices into second nature. Try exercises .
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