Differences between Preterite Indefinido, Preterite Perfecto, and Preterite Imperfecto

John L.A2Kwiziq community member

Differences between Preterite Indefinido, Preterite Perfecto, and Preterite Imperfecto

I am a little confused with terminology. Are Preterite Indefinido and Preterite Perfecto the same thing? As others have highlighted, I am confused with the past perfect and preterite perfect. 

Using esquiar as an example: I skied = Yo esquié; I have skied =  He esquiado; I used to ski = Yo esquiaba; I have been skiing = Yo estaba esquiado. Am I wrong with these examples?

Asked 1 week ago
InmaKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hola John

Your examples are correct except for the last one: I have been skiing = Yo he estado esquiando (and I was skiing = Yo estaba esquiando).

The confusion about the name of the tenses often comes when we see the word "pretérito" because we always think of a past tense when we see that word; however, in Spanish we have the name "Pretérito Perfecto or Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto" for the English tense "Present Perfect" - seeing the word "pretérito" in the Spanish name and the word "present" in the English name is confusing, but we are all referring to the same tense: I have skied, you have skied, he has skied... (he esquiado, has esquiado, ha esquiado...)

There is a very useful table with all the names used for all tenses in Spanish and in English that will clarify any doubt about tenses names. Here it is. I hope it's useful.

Saludos cordiales 

Inma

Differences between Preterite Indefinido, Preterite Perfecto, and Preterite Imperfecto

I am a little confused with terminology. Are Preterite Indefinido and Preterite Perfecto the same thing? As others have highlighted, I am confused with the past perfect and preterite perfect. 

Using esquiar as an example: I skied = Yo esquié; I have skied =  He esquiado; I used to ski = Yo esquiaba; I have been skiing = Yo estaba esquiado. Am I wrong with these examples?

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