AP Spanish : Preterite / El Pretérito

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Spanish

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 :Past Tenses

Which is the correct verb form?

Estaba andando en el parque cuando, de repente, un ciervo me __________.

Possible Answers:

sorprendió

sorprenderá

sorprendido

sorprendía

Correct answer:

sorprendió

Explanation:

这句话表达了动作的完成e deer surprising me in the park, thus the preterite tense is the only correct response.

Example Question #1 :Past Tenses

Which verb form is correct in context?

Estaba andando en la calle cuando, de repente, un ladrón__________robarme.

Possible Answers:

intentó

intentaban

intentaba

intenté

Correct answer:

intentó

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."

Example Question #3 :Preterite / El Pretérito

Which verb form properly completes the sentence?

__________cerca de la orilla del rio cuando, de repente, vi un pez.

Possible Answers:

Andaba

Andaré

Andé

Anduve

Correct answer:

Andaba

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."

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