Preterite / El Pretérito
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AP Spanish Language and Culture › Preterite / El Pretérito
Fill in the blank with the correct answer.
Nosotros __________ allí por ocho años.
vivimos
vivíamos
éramos
estábamos
íbamos
Explanation
The correct answer is vivimos. Even though the example given "por ocho años" was an action that occurred over a long period of time, since a definitive beginning and ending period is given in the sentence, the only viable verb is "vivimos," as all of the other verbs are in the imperfect tense.
Which is the correct verb form?
Estaba andando en el parque cuando, de repente, un ciervo me __________.
sorprendió
sorprendido
sorprendía
sorprenderá
Explanation
This sentence expresses the completed action of the deer surprising me in the park, thus the preterite tense is the only correct response.
Which verb form is correct in context?
Estaba andando en la calle cuando, de repente, un ladrón __________ robarme.
intentó
intenté
intentaba
intentaban
Explanation
An interrupted action sequence requires the imperfect tense for the interrupted action and the preterite tense for the interrupting action, in this case, "intentó." The other verbs either do not agree in tense or in number with "un ladrón."
English translation: "I was walking in the street when, all of a sudden, a thief tried to rob me."
Which verb form properly completes the sentence?
__________ cerca de la orilla del rio cuando, de repente, vi un pez.
Andaba
Andé
Anduve
Andaré
Explanation
The first verb conveys an action that is interrupted, so it needs to be in the imperfect tense. Only "Andaba" is the first person imperfect form of "andar" (to walk).
English translation: "I was walking near the bank of the river when, all of a sudden, I saw a fish."