Difference between PRETERITE and COPRETERITE

The Spanish language is characterized by having many verb tenses. This helps us to express the same action that happens at different times. There are some very different verb tenses between them, but others that show many similarities.

And this is the case of the tenses that we are going to explain to you in this lesson from a PROFESSOR. Read on to discover the difference between preterite and copreterite and examples.

Index

1. What is the preterite?
2. What is the copreterite?
3. Difference between preterite and co-preterite
4. Examples of verbs and sentences in the preterite
5. Examples of verbs and sentences in copreterite

The past tense is past simple of verbs. It is identified because it is the simplest past tense verb and, therefore, does not need an excessive explanation, since it is difficult to confuse. The verbs that are written in this verb tense refer to a action that is already completed and, you will be able to realize it, by the same verb or by the sentence of which they are part.

Some Examples of sentences with the verb in the preterite are the following:

• Me I ate sushi
• I played until it was morning
• I ran until I get tired
• the dog barked To the neighbour
• Went to the restaurant last night

In these examples we can see that the verb shows us a action that has already happened and that it has met its end in the past. All the sentences in the preterite show us, with certainty, that the action to which they refer has already finished.

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the copreterite It is also known, more commonly, as the past imperfect. It is a type of past that shows some more difficulties when it comes to recognizing it. On this occasion, the action has also taken place in the past and has already concluded, but we will not put so much emphasis on "when it happened", but the importance will fall on "what happened". The copreterite is a verb tense that places all its importance on the action performed.

These are some sentences that contain a verb in copreterite:

• Me I used to eat ramen
• played until he got dark
• ran until I get bored
• the dog barked to visits
• We were going to the movies in the afternoon

In these example sentences, you can see that the importance in the sentence falls more on the action that was taking place not when the events happened. This also generates a contrast with the present. Taking as an example the previous sentence of "He played until it got dark", we see the contrast that shows us that he used to play before, but now he doesn't.

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The best way to find the differences between the two verb tenses is through an example of each:

• Me I could cycle
• Me could cycle

With the explanation that we have given you previously, it may be easy for you to discover in which verb tense each of the previous sentences is found. But still we will show you the nuances, so you can see the most significant differences.

The first sentence is written in preterite. It refers to an action in the past that has already been completed and has no continuity in the present. That is to say, the person who speaks explains to us that at a certain moment he managed to ride a bicycle.

On the other hand, in the second sentence, the sender does not give us such a defined period of time. This sentence is written in copreterite and it suggests to us a nuance of meaning in that he was able to ride a bicycle in the past and did so several times, but now he has forgotten how it is done and can no longer ride a bicycle.

These are some Examples of conjugated verbs in the preterite:

• surprised
• you said
• I ate
• I hit
• were
• they swam
• we inform
• we came back
• juice
• collapsed
• You saw
• they trained
• i edited
• we pray
• studied
• suppressed
• they broke
• you gave up

Now we leave you with some example sentences, so you can see the past tense in context:

• Today I I raised very early
• Went to the movies with my friends
• Yesterday we study See you later
• ¿you removed the shirt stain?
• The kids already know they washed teeth
• I know lay down to sleep about an hour ago
• Already have you studied all the capitals of Europe?
• my brothers waited with dinner done
• We reserve a table for tonight
• At school studied Logic

we leave you with some Examples of verbs that are conjugated in the copreterite tense:

• thanked
• we did
• lent
• alluded
• spun
• produced
• set
• we were hosting
• wanted
• craved
• rummaged
• removed
• increased
• we imagined
• we recovered

These Examples of Sentences They will help you to see how the preterit works when we introduce it in a context:

• The young man screamed desperately
• they worked from Monday to Thursday, at that time
• lacked of the most elementary
• used to let us know when class is suspended
• we understood that this could not happen
• At that time, we were going to school six days a week
• The children they ran between the tables
• The tallest ones sat in the last rows
• the smallest yet used diapers when they changed
• The manager always counted the money before withdrawing from the bank

Now you know what the difference between preterite and copreterite and you've seen some examples. If you are interested in continuing to learn more about this topic, do not hesitate to consult our grammar and linguistics section.

If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between preterite and co-preterite with examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Grammar and Linguistics.

• Nowikow, W. (2012). On two dimensions of the preterite/copreterite opposition.
• Salinas, M. J. (1998). The preterite/copreterite difference: An explanation based on the concepts of "aspect" and "types of situations" and its application to teaching Spanish to foreigners. say, 1(1), 9-23.