Preterite versus Imperfect Worksheet 7 - Free Printable

To solve this problem, we need to fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. The key is to decide whether to use the Preterite (for completed actions) or the Imperfect (for ongoing habits, descriptions, or background information).

Here is the step-by-step logic for each blank:

1. (1) era: Describing age in the past ("I was 10 years old") always uses the Imperfect.
2. (2) vivía: Living somewhere is a continuous state/habit, so it uses the Imperfect.
3. (3) fui: Going to a specific place at a specific time ("One day I went...") is a completed action, so it uses the Preterite.
4. (4) quería: Wanting something is a feeling/state of mind, which uses the Imperfect.
5. (5) compró: Buying the toy is a single, completed event. Preterite.
6. (6) jugaba: Playing with the toy became a habit ("every day"), so it uses the Imperfect.
7. (7) tenía: Having/possessing something is a state, so it uses the Imperfect.
8. (8) eran: Describing what the batteries *were like* (description) uses the Imperfect.
9. (9) duraban: Lasting a certain amount of time is a description of the battery's quality/habitual behavior. Imperfect.
10. (10) costaban: Cost is a fact/description about the item. Imperfect.
11. (11) decidí: Making a decision is a mental "click" or completed action. Preterite.
12. (12) ahorré: Saving the money is the result of a completed effort. Preterite.
13. (13) gasté: Spending the money is a completed action. Preterite.
14. (14) me dio: Giving is a one-time event. Preterite.
15. (15) fue: Being fun is an opinion about a specific event (the moment he gave it). Preterite is often used here to mark the event, though *era* is possible if describing the toy generally. Given the narrative flow of events, *fue* fits well as a reaction to the gift. However, usually "It was fun" as a general description is *era*. Let's look closer. "Fue divertido" implies the act of receiving/playing initially was fun. "Era divertido" implies the toy itself was fun. In stories like this, *fue* is very common for the specific instance. Let's stick with fue for the event, or era for the description. Actually, standard grammar often treats "ser + adjective" for opinions on specific past events as Preterite. Let's go with fue. *Self-correction*: Many textbooks accept era if describing the toy's nature. Let's look at the next one.
16. (16) jugué: I played with it (specific instances mentioned: after school, weekends). While "after school" sounds habitual, the sentence lists specific times and ends with "until I broke it." The breaking is the end point. Often, repeated actions within a defined period can be Preterite, but "todos los días" (implied by context of previous sentences) usually triggers Imperfect. However, looking at the previous pattern, let's look at blank 17.
17. (17) rompí: Breaking it is a sudden, completed accident. Preterite.
*Re-evaluating 16*: If 17 is Preterite, 16 is likely the background habit leading up to it. jugaba (Imperfect) is safer for "I used to play/I was playing".
*Re-evaluating 15*: If 16 is Imperfect, 15 is likely era (description of the toy). Let's switch 15 to era and 16 to jugaba. This is the most standard "storytelling" structure.

Let's re-read the middle section carefully.
"Mis papás no tenían dinero... así que decidí (11) ahorrar... ahorré (12)... gasté (13)... Mi papá me dio (14)... Fue (15) divertido..."
Actually, for (15), since it refers to the specific moment of receiving/starting to play, fue is very strong. But for (16) "Jugaba con él después de la escuela...", the imperfect is best for habits.

Let's look at the second paragraph.
18. (18) Crecí: Growing up is a process, but "Crecí en una familia muy unida" is often treated as a summary of that period. However, Crecía is also possible. Usually, "I grew up" as a life fact is Crecí.
19. (19) éramos: We were a united family (description). Imperfect.
20. (20) comíamos: Eating together was a habit. Imperfect.
21. (21) veíamos: Watching TV was a habit. Imperfect.
22. (22) hacía: Doing homework was a habit. Imperfect.
23. (23) leía: Reading was a habit. Imperfect.
24. (24) Era: It was a beautiful house (description). Imperfect.
25. (25) tenía: It had a big yard (description/possession). Imperfect.
26. (26) jugaba: I played outside (habit). Imperfect.
27. (27) construí: Building the fort is a completed project. Preterite.
28. (28) invité: Inviting friends is a completed action. Preterite.
29. (29) pasábamos: Passing time/spending time is a duration/habit. Imperfect.
30. (30) sabíamos: Knowing is a state of mind. Imperfect.

Let's double check #15 and #16.
Context: "My dad gave me the car. [It] ___ fun. I ___ with it after school..."
If I say "It was fun (era)", I am describing the toy.
If I say "I played (jugaba)", I am describing my habit.
This fits perfectly.

Let's double check #18.
"Crecí" vs "Crecía". "I grew up in a united family." This is often viewed as a completed phase of life in narratives, so Crecí is preferred.

Let's double check #27.
"Un día... construí (built) un fuerte." Specific day = Preterite. Correct.

Here is the final list based on standard Spanish grammar rules for storytelling (Preterite for plot points, Imperfect for background/habits):

1. era (age/description)
2. vivía (location/habit)
3. fui (specific trip/event)
4. quería (desire/state)
5. compró (completed purchase)
6. jugaba (habitual play)
7. tenía (possession)
8. eran (description of batteries)
9. duraban (description of duration/habit)
10. costaban (price/fact)
11. decidí (mental decision/event)
12. ahorré (completed saving)
13. gasté (completed spending)
14. dio (gave - completed action)
15. fue (It was fun - referring to the event/experience) OR era (referring to the toy). *Note: In many answer keys for this specific text, "fue" is accepted for the experience, but "era" is safer for description. Let's look at the flow. "Me lo dio. Fue divertido." (He gave it to me. It was a fun experience.) vs "Me lo dio. Era divertido." (He gave it to me. It was a fun toy.) Both work. Given the next sentence is "Jugaba" (habit), "Era" sets the scene better. Let's provide era as it describes the toy's nature.* -> Actually, let's stick to the most common textbook answer for "It was fun" regarding a specific gift receipt: Fue. But wait, if I change 15 to *Fue*, does 16 stay *Jugaba*? Yes. Let's look at similar online exercises. Often "Fue divertido" is used for the party/event. For a toy, "Era divertido" is very common. I will provide era for 15 and jugaba for 16 as they describe the state of the toy and the habit of playing.

*Correction on 15/16*: Let's look at blank 15 again. "(15) _______ divertido jugar con él." The subject is "jugar con él" (playing with it). "Playing with it was fun." This is an opinion about the activity. Often Preterite. However, since the playing continued as a habit (blank 16), Imperfect era is extremely likely.

Let's finalize the list.

1. era
2. vivía
3. fui
4. quería
5. compró
6. jugaba
7. tenía
8. eran
9. duraban
10. costaban
11. decidí
12. ahorré
13. gasté
14. dio
15. era (or fue) -> I will list era as it pairs with the habitual *jugaba*.
16. jugaba
17. rompí
18. Crecí
19. éramos
20. comíamos
21. veíamos
22. hacía
23. leía
24. Era
25. tenía
26. jugaba
27. construí
28. invité
29. pasábamos
30. sabíamos

Final Answer:
1. era
2. vivía
3. fui
4. quería
5. compró
6. jugaba
7. tenía
8. eran
9. duraban
10. costaban
11. decidí
12. ahorré
13. gasté
14. dio
15. era
16. jugaba
17. rompí
18. Crecí
19. éramos
20. comíamos
21. veíamos
22. hacía
23. leía
24. Era
25. tenía
26. jugaba
27. construí
28. invité
29. pasábamos
30. sabíamos