Spanish Grammar: Tense - LanguageGuide.org

Tense

Past

The preterite (see preterite conjugations) is used to report activities that have finished.

	José apagó el motor.	José turned the engine off.
	Caminamos por el centro.	We walked through downtown.
	El presidente dió un discurso.	The president gave a speech
	La camarera me trajo un vaso de agua.	The waitress brought me a glass of water.

The imperfect (see imperfect conjugations) is used to describe background activities, which in the time frame of the story haven't been completed and are ongoing.

	El presidente daba un discurso cuando comenzó a llover. The president was giving a speech when it began to rain.
	Mi marido me traía un vaso con agua cuando se resbaló y cayó al suelo. Él dejó caer el vaso. My husband was bringing a glass of water when he slipped and fell on the ground. He dropped the glass.

The imperfect is normally used to describe characteristics or lasting qualities, as these tend to be ongoing.

	La casa era morada y la puerta negra. The house was purple and the door black.
	El niño cojeaba por el accidente. The child limped because of the accident.

El Futuro

future

(see future & conditional conjugations)

	Su hermano dirá la verdad a Marta.	His brother will tell the truth to Marta.
	Nosotros haremos los quehaceres.	We will do the chores.
	Las cabras comerán las cebollas.	The goats will eat the onions.
	Tú caminarás hasta el centro.	You will walk to downtown.

El Condicional

conditional

(see future & conditional conjugations)

	-Que harías si ganas la loteria? What would you do if you won the lottery?
	-No me tomes el pelo. Dime la verdad. Don't pull my leg (Don't take my hair). Tell me the truth.
	-Bueno, pienso que iría de compras por todo un año. Después, yo daría el resto a los pobres. Well, I think that I would go shopping for an entire year. Afterwards, I would give the rest to the poor.
	Si tuviera dinero te llevaría al cine. If I had money, I would take you to the movies.
	Si comiera alimentos saludables, me sentiría mejor. If I ate healthy food, I would feel better.

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