"spanish help" imperfect vs preterit?

Question

is there an easy way to learn the difference because i still get it wrong some times.

Answer 1

Maybe it would help to think that the imperfect is called that because it's unclear or indefinite or imperfect about indicating how long a past action lasted. For example if someone says "he was traveling," (caminaba) then you don't know how long he was doing that --how long the action lasted was indefinite, & so the verb is vague and "imperfect." For all we know, he might still be traveling. He was in the past, and he still may be, so that information is imperfect.

But if you say"he traveled" (caminó), then [at least to me] that sounds more definite. He traveled. He did it, & that was that. We know it's in the past, we know it's over, so in that sense our info is perfect, and that starts with P, like the Preterite.

Oh, I dunno, that may not help much, but maybe you can make up some story like that, & maybe come up with something better.
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Answer 2

Imperfect = Unfinished, continuous, moving. It gives a mental sensation of time moving in the past tense. "was eating an hour ago," "used to eat every day."

Preterite = Finished, complete actions. It gives a sensation of "it's done and over with." "first i ate, then i took a bath, then i shaved." would all be used in the preterite.

The hardest part for me was learning the different definitions of some words like saber, querer, conocer, etc.

But don't try to think of a rule and memorize it like a computer. Instead, try to make mental images and sensations when you hear a word in a certain tense. If you plan on learning Spanish as a second language, it is better for you to just get a feeling for it rather than memorizing certain rules. Don't try to think about it too much.

Here is an excellent link to help you out.

Answer 3

When the sense of the action is not finished up to the present, when the action is habitual (presence of "used to" or every) use imperfect, preterite is used when the action was finished there and there, it was done just once, that the time when it was done will not come back or not be repeated.

Answer 4

Imperfect= is the second simple past tense in spanish.
in contrast with the preterit, which is used when you view actions or states of being as finished or completed, these imperfect tense is used when you view past actions or states of beign as habitual. you can use either the preterit or imperfect in many Spanish sentences, it depends on the meaning you wish to convey.
example, Yo corri = Pret. (V. Run) Yo corria= Imperfect.(V. Run) ella peleó= Pret. (V. Fight) Ella peleaba= Imperf. (V. Fight)
Ok. Hope, You don't get confuse.
God Bless you.

Answer 5

Imperfect is when you say something about the past that is ongoing. EX. "They were partying all night." Preterite is when you say something about the past and then it ended. EX. "They partied all night" I hope this helps, it's kind of hard to explain.