Need Present Tense First?
If you're still working on basic verb patterns, visit Diego first. He'll drill those present tense foundations. Then come back here for the advanced stuff!
Learn Present Tense with Diego →Preterite vs Imperfect - Past Tenses
The difference between what HAPPENED and what WAS HAPPENING
This is where English speakers struggle most. Think of it like Instagram vs. a movie: Preterite is the Instagram POST (snap! it happened), Imperfect is the MOVIE SCENE (it was happening). "Carmen COCINABA cuando Mateo LLEGÓ" - she WAS COOKING (the scene) when he ARRIVED (the moment).
Preterite -AR
Completed action!
| yo | hablé |
| tú | hablaste |
| él/ella | habló |
| nosotros | hablamos |
| ellos | hablaron |
Imperfect -AR
Was happening
| yo | hablaba |
| tú | hablabas |
| él/ella | hablaba |
| nosotros | hablábamos |
| ellos | hablaban |
Imperfect -ER/-IR
Was happening
| yo | comía |
| tú | comías |
| él/ella | comía |
| nosotros | comíamos |
| ellos | comían |
Meaning-Shift Verbs (Different in Each Tense)
conoció
met (first time)
↻
La conoció ayer
The moment they met
conocía
knew (already)
↻
Ya la conocía
Already acquainted
supo
found out
↻
Lo supo anoche
Discovery moment
sabía
knew (info)
↻
Ya lo sabía
Already knew
quiso
tried to
↻
Quiso hablar
Attempted
quería
wanted
↻
Siempre quería más
Ongoing desire
pudo
managed to
↻
Por fin pudo
Succeeded!
podía
could/was able
↻
No podía creer
General ability
no quiso
refused
↻
No quiso hablar
Active refusal
8 Essential Irregular Preterites
Group 1
| tener | → tuv- |
| estar | → estuv- |
| poder | → pud- |
Group 2
| poner | → pus- |
| saber | → sup- |
| venir | → vin- |
Special
| hacer | → hic-/hiz- |
| decir | → dij- |
| Note: dijeron (not dijieron!) | |
Endings for all: -e, -iste, -o, -imos, -ieron
Example: "Ayer TUVE que salir temprano"
Accent Alert:
Preterite NEEDS accents! hablé, comió, llegué - forget the accent and you change the meaning!
Quick Test:
Can you add "suddenly"? Use preterite. Can you add "always/used to"? Use imperfect!
Present Progressive - What's Happening NOW
RIGHT NOW actions vs habits
The progressive is for LIVE ACTION. "Carmen ESTÁ HABLANDO" = she's talking RIGHT NOW. But "Carmen HABLA español" = she speaks Spanish (ability). Big difference!
estar + -ando/-iendo
RIGHT NOW
↻
Está trabajando
Working now!
Simple present
Habits/facts
↻
Trabaja aquí
Works here
Progressive Variations
seguir + gerundio
still doing
↻
Sigue trabajando
Still working
andar + gerundio
going around doing
↻
Anda buscando
Mexican usage
ir + gerundio
gradually
↻
Va mejorando
Getting better
Future Plans:
Don't use progressive for plans! Use "ir a + infinitive": "Va a llegar tarde" NOT "está llegando tarde"
Future & Conditional
What WILL happen vs what WOULD happen
The future isn't just predictions - it's also for guessing! "Estará en casa" = "She's probably home." The conditional is for hypotheticals: "Yo haría eso" = "I would do that."
Future
Will happen
| yo | hablaré |
| tú | hablarás |
| él/ella | hablará |
| nosotros | hablaremos |
| ellos | hablarán |
Conditional
Would happen
| yo | hablaría |
| tú | hablarías |
| él/ella | hablaría |
| nosotros | hablaríamos |
| ellos | hablarían |
Irregular Stems
Same for both!
| tener | tendr- |
| hacer | har- |
| decir | dir- |
| poder | podr- |
| saber | sabr- |
Easy Future Patterns
ir a + infinitive
going to
↻
Voy a llamar
Easiest future!
tener que + inf
have to
↻
Tengo que ir
Obligation
Subjunctive - Emotions & Uncertainty
Doubt, emotion, and wishes change the verb!
The subjunctive is for feelings and doubts. "No creo que VENGA" (I don't think she'll come) - doubt changes "viene" to "venga"!
Subjunctive -AR
Opposite endings!
| yo | hable |
| tú | hables |
| él/ella | hable |
| nosotros | hablemos |
| ellos | hablen |
Subjunctive -ER/-IR
Opposite endings!
| yo | coma |
| tú | comas |
| él/ella | coma |
| nosotros | comamos |
| ellos | coman |
WEH Triggers
When to use
| Wishes: | Ojalá que... |
| Emotion: | Me alegra que... |
| Hedging: | Dudo que... |
Always Subjunctive After:
antes de que
before
↻
Antes de que llegue
Always subjunctive
cuando + future
when (future)
↻
Cuando vengas
Future = subjunctive
para que
so that
↻
Para que entiendas
Purpose = subjunctive
Telling Complete Stories
Mix your tenses naturally!
Real conversations flow through tenses: "Ayer ESTABA en el café cuando VI a Carmen. ESTÁ trabajando ahora y creo que TERMINARÁ tarde." Past → Present → Future!
Story Formula
Background
Imperfect
↻
Era lunes...
Set the scene
Action
Preterite
↻
De repente llegó...
What happened
Connector Words
Background
Setting scene
↻
mientras, siempre, antes
Use with imperfect
Action
Moving forward
↻
de repente, entonces, por eso
Use with preterite
Regional Variations
Same grammar, different expressions
Each country has its flavor, but the grammar stays the same. Just some unique expressions!
🇲🇽 Ahorita
Right now (flexible)
↻
Can mean now or later
Context matters!
🇲🇽 Ya
Already/now
↻
¡Ya! ¿Ya llegaste?
Multiple uses
🇦🇷 Vos sabés
You know
↻
Instead of "tú sabes"
Argentina/Uruguay
🇨🇴 Qué pena
How embarrassing
↻
Colombian usage
NOT "what a pity"
🇵🇪 Pe
Pues
↻
Sí pe, claro pe
End of sentences
🇲🇽 ¿A poco?
Really?
↻
Mexican disbelief
Perfect reaction
Ready to Master Grammar Through Real Conversations?
Now you have all the tenses you need for real Spanish conversations. Remember - it's not about perfection, it's about communication. Come practice with me!