Imperfect Part III: Quiz #1

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