Year 9 - Spanish
Past experiences of work: -ar verbs imperfect tense 1st person singular
Past routines and past events: imperfect tense
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn how to form the imperfect tense for past habitual events with -ar, -er, -ir verbs. Irregular imperfect forms for 'ser' 'era' and 'eras' are also taught. Pupils reinforce their knowledge of the imperfect tense by exploring the text 'El Quijote'.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what was happening and what happened at work using the preterite and imperfect.
Key Notes
- The two different [r] sounds sometimes change the meaning of a word, e.g. 'pero' - 'but', 'perro' - 'dog'.
- To talk about a completed event in the past, we use the preterite tense, e.g. 'mandé un correo ayer'.
- To talk about something that used to happen repeatedly in the past, we use the imperfect tense, e.g. 'mandaba'.
- In the imperfect tense, the verb 'estar' can be translated with 'was, were' or 'used to', e.g. 'estaba feliz'.
Vocabulary To Learn
- preterite tense: tense used for events completed in the past
- imperfect tense: tense used to describe how things were or used to be in the past
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- It doesn't matter if the action was completed or repeated - I can use any past tense verb.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
The two different [r] sounds sometimes change the meaning of a word, e.g. 'pero' - 'but', 'perro' - 'dog'. To talk about a completed event in the past, we use the preterite tense, e.g. 'mandé un correo ayer'.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'preterite tense'
tense used for events completed in the past. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: It doesn't matter if the action was completed or repeated - I can use any past tense verb. Correction: In Spanish, we choose between the preterite and imperfect based on how the action happened in the past. Use the preterite to communicate an action that happened once and the imperfect for actions that were repeated over a period of time.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Extended reading (Don Quijote): 'había' and 'tenía' Study Guide
- Extended reading (Don Quijote): imperfect continuous Study Guide
- Past celebrations: -er and -ir verbs imperfect tense Study Guide
- Past experiences of work: -ar verbs imperfect tense 2nd and 3rd person singular Study Guide
- Past routines: -er and -ir verbs imperfect tense Study Guide
- The past of a Spanish-speaking city: 'era', 'eras' Study Guide
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