Please check;
Answers on bottom:
Preterite vs. imperfect 1?
A. Choose between the preterite or the imperfect.
1. We wanted to buy the car.
QuisimosQueríamos comprar el auto.
2. The man refused to speak.
El hombre no quisono quería hablar.
3. They found out the news yesterday.
SupieronSabían las noticias ayer.
4. The boy knew she was coming.
El chico suposabía que ella venía.
5. We succeeded in lifting the piano.
PudimosPodíamos levantar el piano.
6. I met Juan five years ago.
Hace cinco años que conocíconocía a Juan.
7. I received a letter from my sister.
TuveTenía una carta de mi hermana.
8. Carmen used to have a house in Acapulco.
Carmen tuvotenía una casa en Acapulco.
9. Arturo tried to leave.
Arturo quisoquería salir.
10. Maria tried to eat.
María quisoquería comer.
11. The girls were able to go to the party.
Las chicas pudieronpodían ir a la fiesta.
12. The brothers received a message from their father.
Los hermanos tuvierontenían un mensaje de su padre.
13. The drunk refused to leave.
El borracho no quisono quería salir.
14. I knew him well.
Le ConocíConocía bien.
15. Jorge met a charming young lady.
Jorge conocióconocía a una simpática señorita.
16. At that time we knew the city very well.
En aquella época conocimosconocíamos muy bien la ciudad.
17. Alberto succeeded in reading the whole book.
Alberto pudopodía leer el libro entero.
18. I wasn't able to remember his name.
No pudepodía recordar su nombre.
19. Last night Juan found out the truth.
Anoche Juan suposabía la verdad.
20. The young ladies did not want to leave.
Las señoritas no quisieronno querían salir.
1. Queríamos comprar el auto.
2. El hombre no quiso hablar.
3. Supieron las noticias ayer.
4. El chico sabía que ella venía.
5. Pudimos levantar el piano.
6. Hace cinco años que conocí a Juan.
7. Tuve una carta de mi hermana.
8. Carmen tenía una casa en Acapulco.
9. Arturo quiso salir.
10. María quiso comer.
11. Las chicas pudieron ir a la fiesta.
12. Los hermanos tuvieron un mensaje de su padre.
13. El borracho no quiso salir.
14. Le conocía bien.
15. Jorge conoció a una simpática señorita.
16. En aquella época conocíamos muy bien la ciudad.
17. Alberto pudo leer el libro entero.
18. No pude recordar su nombre.
19. Anoche Juan supo la verdad.
20. Las señoritas no querían salir.
11. I question this one because the Preterit pudieron translates as "managed" or "did go" vs. the imperfect podían = were able to
Sometimes ONLY the speaker can justify which one is used.
Same with #18 = no pude = I didn't manage/succeed vs no podía = I couldn't, wasn't able to
I agree with all the rest.
Sra
To determine whether to use the preterite or the imperfect tense in these sentences, we need to understand the differences between the two tenses.
The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions that happened at a specific point in the past. It is used for actions that have a definite beginning and end. The imperfect tense, on the other hand, is used to describe past actions that were ongoing, habitual, or background information.
Now let's analyze each sentence to determine which tense to use:
1. We wanted to buy the car.
Since this is a desire or intention in the past without a specific beginning or end, we use the imperfect tense. The correct answer is "Queríamos comprar el auto."
2. The man refused to speak.
This action has a clear beginning and end, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "El hombre no quiso hablar."
3. They found out the news yesterday.
This is a completed action at a specific point in the past, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Supieron las noticias ayer."
4. The boy knew she was coming.
This is background information and doesn't have a specific beginning or end, so we use the imperfect tense. The correct answer is "El chico sabía que ella venía."
5. We succeeded in lifting the piano.
This is a completed action, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Pudimos levantar el piano."
6. I met Juan five years ago.
This action happened at a specific point in the past, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Hace cinco años que conocí a Juan."
7. I received a letter from my sister.
This is a completed action, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Tuve una carta de mi hermana."
8. Carmen used to have a house in Acapulco.
This describes a past habit, so we use the imperfect tense. The correct answer is "Carmen tenía una casa en Acapulco."
9. Arturo tried to leave.
This action has a clear beginning and end, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Arturo quiso salir."
10. Maria tried to eat.
This action has a clear beginning and end, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "María quiso comer."
11. The girls were able to go to the party.
This is a completed action, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Las chicas pudieron ir a la fiesta."
12. The brothers received a message from their father.
This is a completed action, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Los hermanos tuvieron un mensaje de su padre."
13. The drunk refused to leave.
This action has a clear beginning and end, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "El borracho no quiso salir."
14. I knew him well.
This is background information and doesn't have a specific beginning or end, so we use the imperfect tense. The correct answer is "Le conocía bien."
15. Jorge met a charming young lady.
This action happened at a specific point in the past, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Jorge conoció a una simpática señorita."
16. At that time we knew the city very well.
This is background information and doesn't have a specific beginning or end, so we use the imperfect tense. The correct answer is "En aquella época conocíamos muy bien la ciudad."
17. Alberto succeeded in reading the whole book.
This is a completed action, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Alberto pudo leer el libro entero."
18. I wasn't able to remember his name.
This is a habitual action in the past, so we use the imperfect tense. The correct answer is "No podía recordar su nombre."
19. Last night Juan found out the truth.
This is a completed action at a specific point in the past, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Anoche Juan supo la verdad."
20. The young ladies did not want to leave.
This action has a clear beginning and end, so we use the preterite tense. The correct answer is "Las señoritas no quisieron salir."
So, the correct answers are:
1. Queríamos comprar el auto.
2. El hombre no quiso hablar.
3. Supieron las noticias ayer.
4. El chico sabía que ella venía.
5. Pudimos levantar el piano.
6. Hace cinco años que conocí a Juan.
7. Tuve una carta de mi hermana.
8. Carmen tenía una casa en Acapulco.
9. Arturo quiso salir.
10. María quiso comer.
11. Las chicas pudieron ir a la fiesta.
12. Los hermanos tuvieron un mensaje de su padre.
13. El borracho no quiso salir.
14. Le conocía bien.
15. Jorge conoció a una simpática señorita.
16. En aquella época conocíamos muy bien la ciudad.
17. Alberto pudo leer el libro entero.
18. No podía recordar su nombre.
19. Anoche Juan supo la verdad.
20. Las señoritas no quisieron salir.