Difference between imperfecto and indefinido
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
One of the common mistakes made by students is the difference between the Pretérito perfecto simple (Indefinido) and the Imperfecto.
For many students it is difficult to know when to use the indefinido or the imperfecto, as they both refer to actions in the past. The following table summarizes the uses of both tenses to help you making the right choice.
Pretérito perfecto simple (Indefinido) | Imperfecto |
---|---|
For actions that took place in the past Ellos se casaron el mes pasado. (They got married last month) | For habits or repeated actions in the past. Yo veía a mis primos todas las semanas. (I used to see my cousins every week). |
For actions completed at a definite moment in the past Bailé mucho anoche (I danced a lot last night) | For specific actions or events in the past. El parque tenia 3 bancos. (The park had 3 benches) |
For series of actions or events completed in the past. Entraste, miraste a tu padre y le diste un abrazo. (You entered, looked at your father and hugged him) | To describe people or states of indefinite duration in the past with no reference to its beginning or end. Su hermano era alto. (His brother was tall). |
For actions that, because of their nature, are not usually repeated such as to get married (casarse), to turn a specific age (cumplir años),to realize something (darse cuenta de), to decide (decidir), to graduate (graduarse), to die (morir), etc. La hija de Ana nació en ese hospital (Ana’s daughter was born in that hospital). | To express age in the past Mis abuelos tenían 80 años. (My grandparents were 80) |
/ | To express time in the past Eran las 6. (It was six o’clock) |
/ | To express a mental state or a mental action. Ella pensaba en su abuela. (She was thinking about her grandma) |
The pretérito imperfecto it is used in descriptions and to say what was happening or used to happen. The beginning and ending of the actions in Imperfecto is not specified. On the other hand, the pretérito Indefinido it’s used to talk about completed actions in the past or actions completed at a definite, specific moment in the past
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
Imperfecto | Indefinido |
---|---|
Generalmente / normalmente (generally) | De repente (suddenly) |
Siempre / nunca (always/never) | Finalmente (finally) |
Todos los días /meses /años (every day/ month/ year) | El mes pasado (last month) |
De vez en cuando (from time to time) | Anoche (last night) |
Antes (before) | Ayer (yesterday) |
Mientras (while) | Entonces (then) |
Cuando era joven… (When I was young) | En 2011 (in 2011…) |
The meaning of some verbs changes depending on the time in which they occur. Therefore, it is important to know what you want to express in order to choose the right tense.
Imperfecto | Indefinido |
---|---|
To know something well: Mi amiga se conoce la ciudad al dedillo. (My friend knows the city very well) | To meet for the first time: Le conocí en un centro social. (I met him in a social center) |
Imperfecto | Indefinido |
---|---|
To know something: No sabíamos que el trabajo era tan duro. (We didn’t know that the job was that hard) | To know about something: Supimos del hotel por un amigo. (We knew about the hotel because of a friend) |
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hi, my name is Alejandro!
I am a native Spanish speaker from Caracas, Venezuela. I have been teaching Spanish for more than five years, and I am an honest, considerate and friendly person. Also, I have experience teaching people of all ages and levels. Furthermore, I am here to tailor to your needs and help you to improve your language proficiency, our sessions can focus on any of the language skills, especially conversation which is my primary focus to help students.
If you want to become more fluent in speaking, increase your vocabulary and pronunciation, start a lesson with me!
I speak English (Level C1) therefore, this language could be of help during the lesson if we need it. Since I am a Philosophy student, I am especially qualified to help you develop your academic writing skills and, if you are also interested, I could teach you Philosophy while we speak Spanish.
If you have any questions or concerns please message me and I will get back to you as soon as possible!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Alejandro is a smiling and nice person. He's also a great Spanish teacher to beginner as advanced with great teaching materials ! Students could learn Spanish grammar and vocabulary by attractive pictures, discussions and exercises ! Moreover Alejandro creates his own Spanish courses based on students level and demands !
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Mi, my name is Luisa and I love teaching my language. I've been a teacher for six years and I teach German at two language schools and online.
The focus of my lessons is you speaking. We set a goal together and then you'll be talking. I'll offer you a lot of oral exercises to exercise sentence structures and vocabulary. Let's get started!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Luisa is a nice and professional teacher. She can teach to different students with different levels and necessities. She will provide you with all the learning materials you may need, guiding you through the path of language learning.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Emanuela is an experienced teacher, with several classes with students of different ages. Emanuela’s classes are often paired up with media tools, to keep each student interested and engaged. The lessons are structured to respond to the students’ needs and wants, and so is the teaching method, tailored to the student’s style of study.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I base my lessons on your preferences. Would you like to speak better? No problem, so I'll look for nice pictures or newspaper articles for you that we can talk about.
Would you like to go deeper into grammar or do you always run into the same questions? I will explain the rules in a way that you can understand them so that you will learn the German language with more fun and success.
I have a great passion for languages and people. In Switzerland I gave a course for German as a foreign language and it was a nice experience. I also gave typing lessons to adults and so have a lot of experience in classrooms.
After that I followed a training course as a trainer for adults and now have a SVEB EUROLTA Diploma. Here in Eindhoven I also work for a language school and because I really love this work, I would like to give more lessons.
Reading, writing or speaking - do you find that difficult? Then we will work together to make it easier for you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Corinne has a great teaching experience. She uses pictures and hole texts to practice your grammar and your speech in German. Her courses are depending by students demands and are attractive !
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello everyone!
My name is Wanda, I'm 27 and I'm French.
I have a Master's Degree in Teaching French as a Foreign Language from the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, as well as 3 years of teaching experience (face-to-face, remote courses, or group classes).
I can teach you everything from grammar to culture, but I am particularly able to help you get a better pronunciation! Indeed, I also have a Master's Degree in Linguistics, for which I wrote a thesis about the pronunciation of people learning French as a foreign language =)
Regarding pronunciation, I'll help you without any judgment and only if you express the need to improve!
I studied one year in Japan (Osaka) where I gave French classes at the University of Kansai. During this time, I met a lot of people from various background and I became very open-minded and comfortable with different cultures.
What I like the most in teaching French is getting to meet and know people from different cultures =)
So, I'll be waiting for you! =)
See you soon,
Wanda
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Wanda is a professional native French teacher that can help you to master the language! She has a lot of experience with individual and group lessons and great learning materials.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My name is Eleni and I’m a certified Greek language tutor and a native speaker of Greek, living in Hania, Crete. I'm also a certified English teacher and provide English language lessons to all levels and ages.
I'm specialized in teaching a foreign language to students with learning difficulties.
I have experience in teaching Modern Greek to children and adults of various levels, from absolute beginners to advanced students. My teaching depends on my students, their needs, their interests and their level in Greek language.
The materials I use during the learning journey are updated and colorful learning materials – the materials are structured in accordance with the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). Furthermore, I use interactive material, like videos, music, and up-to-date software, where the student gets engaged during the learning process.
My goal is to maintain my students enthusiasm and curiosity during this learning journey. I make sure my students improve their speaking skills and get results so that they can talk with confidence to Greek speakers.
Book your trial lesson and we will discuss your language needs in detail.
I look forward to meeting you. Ya sou!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Eleni has taught English and Greek since years. She adaptes her lessons according students age, level and needs. Students can learn with personalized lessons as Eleni creates her own courses. Moreover she tries to keep students motivated and involved on their learning by different tools : songs, grammar exercises, understanding and very original lessons on Greek traditions. I recommend her !
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Why should you choose me? Take a look at what people say who have taken online classes with me.
Book lessons with me and
- prepare Dutch exams "Basisinburgering A1" and "Inburgeringsexamen A2". Your full commitment and my energetic, professional approach are the winning combination to help you succeed at once!
- learn Dutch because you live in the Netherlands (or are planning to move there) and still don’t speak the language properly or haven’t started yet. You’ll enjoy your environment more!
- learn Italian for work or because you will move to this beautiful country or simply because you just love it. Let me help you experience the language!
- study Spanish for pleasure, work or because you have to prepare an exam for school and you need to get confident to perform optimally
- get confident in useful daily conversations, meetings at work, exams, and presentations
- overcome the fear of failure; if you have learning problems, feel shy or need a boost of energy you’ll get confident enough to achieve your goals
My lessons are based on conversations. My method is to help you practice the language from the very beginning in spontaneous and direct conversations, using often role plays.
With books, articles, songs, and other interesting and stimulating material I will encourage conversation, develop grammar in a simpler way, and improve pronunciation.
Learning a foreign language is not a matter of doing much effort, but rather of being consistent, enjoying the lessons and allowing your intuition to work with you. You will book immediate results while having fun!
I've been teaching Dutch, Spanish and Italian for many years, in The Netherlands, for private institutes, for the integration of foreigners into society (Inburgering), and online from Italy, where I currently live.
Contact me for a free trial and let me know how I can help you.
CANCELATION POLICY
If you cancel a reservation please do it at least 24 hours before the session
(otherwise I would have to charge you for the lesson).
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Elena is great to have as a teacher. She takes her time to explain and adjust her course to your pace.
Elena P.I appreciate your feedback, Bram. Thank you!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Joanna is an incredibly friendly and professional teacher! She knows the difficulties in learning a new language and for this reason, she will help you with every aspect of the Polish language. She has great materials. We can recommend her 100%.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I am very grateful that I found Noelia as a Spanish teacher. Your lessons are very well prepared and adapted to the level of knowledge of the student. The lessons include grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, which are, however, entertaining and interesting. Noelia speaks very clearly, so that you can understand her very well even with less knowledge of Spanish. Lessons with Noelia are a lot of fun, she is very open-minded, friendly and always in a good mood.
Noelia N.It's a pleasure, Laura! :)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello, students of English! I'm an American who teaches English classes at a French university. I have a life-long passion for foreign languages. Apart from French, I also speak fluent Spanish and have an intermediate level in Portuguese.
Teaching my native language is not only a language exchange, but a cultural exchange allowing me to connect with people from many diverse backgrounds.
All levels are welcome, and we can work with whatever you want (conversation classes, writing, etc.) The first lesson is always free, and allows me to do a level test.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Julia is a great English teacher ! She teaches English for kids, students and adults and she has teaching experience at a French university. She has many teaching tools and she adapts each courses according level, demands and liking of the student. Student can be in confidence with her and improve her/him English pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary by oral or writing comprehension, pictures or exercises. I recommend her !
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Guy is an experienced French teacher in Cameroun. He is used to working with kids, teenagers and adults and for different level. Students can learn French grammar, vocabulary and have a conversion with him.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello, everyone,
I am Marcella, a native Italian who has moved to Switzerland to study.
I have a degree in Ancient Literature with a focus on archaeology, and in Italy I am qualified to teach literary classes.
I am doing a PhD in archaeology at the University of Bern, where I teach every two semesters.
I prefer to teach one-to-one or in pairs in order to make the most of my time and focus on people's needs. I prepare targeted courses, which is why I offer a trial lesson to establish the future course of the lessons.
Lessons are usually always mixed, conversation and grammar using audio, video and text material. Depending on the speed at which the student intends to progress, homework assignments are structured.
Try it for yourself! I look forward to seeing you online!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Marcella is a nice and experienced teacher. She had different types of students, she always assesses their level before starting to teach and she also likes to get to know their interest, to be able to keep them interested and engaged. The learning materials she provides are very good.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Professional teacher of German and Russian language, graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature.
I work as a high school and private teacher for teenagers, adults, companies.
I got my C2 Level Certificate Goethe Institut - German Language in 2020.
Professional examiner ÖSD Zertifikat (Austrian German Certificate) for the levels A2, B1, B2, C1 (2021-2022).
One-on-one lessons, group lessons, flexible for student's needs at all levels A1 A2 B1 B2 C1.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Andrea is a very well-structured teacher. He is very passionate about teaching and multilingual. I can really recommend him to anyone.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Elhamy is a nice person which wants to share his experiences. His learning materials mix grammar, discussion and english expression !
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials