Quiz #1
Imperfect: Part III

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A. Try substituting "was/were ...ing" "used to ..." or "would ..." (meaning "used to ...") for the verb in order to determine whether the tense should be imperfect or preterite.

1. Every day I visited my aunt. (used to visit)

   visité
   visitaba
   

2. He wore a white shirt to the party.

   llevó
   llevaba
   

3. He wore a white shirt every day. (used to wear)

   llevó
   llevaba
   

4. Carmen prepared dinner when the doorbell rang. (was preparing)

   preparó
   preparaba
   

5. Juan ran ten miles.

   corrió
   corría
   

6. Juan ran most mornings. (used to run)

   corrió
   corría
   

7. Pablo read the paper last night.

   leyó
   leía
   

B. Choose the correct tense for the following general mental states and physical sensations.

8. I waited in the rain for the taxi.

   esperé
   esperaba
   

9. She loved the boy.

   amó
   amaba
   

10. Their feet hurt.

    dolieron
    dolían
    

11. They were very tired.

    estuvieron
    estaban
    

12. The ladies liked her church dress.

    gustó
    gustaba
    

13. I knew that.

    supe
    sabía
    

14. They wanted more food.

    quisieron
    querían
    

15. You-all couldn't change the tire.

    no pudisteis
    no podíais
    

16. He thought about the day they met.

    pensó
    pensaba
    

C. The following sentences all describe how things were, or what things were like. Which is appropriate, imperfect or preterite?

17. The house was white.

    fue
    era
    

18. The sky was cloudy.

    estuvo
    estaba
    

19. The bag was heavy.

    estuvo
    estaba
    

20. The store was full of candy.

    estuvo
    estaba
    

D. Suggested writing exercise: Write a paragraph using ten different verbs in the preterite and/or imperfect.