Purpose
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to separate habitual background from completed events.
Lesson Explanation
Use the imperfect for repeated past habits, age, weather, and scene-setting: Quando eu era criança, brincava muito; Fazia calor. Use the perfect for the event that moves the story forward: De repente, começou a chover.
Practice Questions
1. What does the imperfect describe?
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Habit, background, age, weather, or an ongoing scene.
2. Write “When I was a child.”
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Quando eu era criança.3. Write “I used to play a lot.”
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brincava muito.4. Write “It was hot.”
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Fazia calor.5. Which tense usually moves a story forward?
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The pretérito perfeito.
6. Write “Suddenly.”
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De repente.7. Write “It started to rain.”
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Começou a chover.8. Which tense fits a repeated childhood habit?
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The imperfect.
9. Which tense fits one finished arrival?
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The perfect.
10. What does era mean?
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Was/used to be.
11. What does chover mean?
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To rain.
12. Why combine these tenses?
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To separate background from completed events.