Chapter 11 Grammar

• Using the preterite and imperfect in the same sentence: Beginning/End vs. habitual


  Use preterite for beginning or end of past action

  Use imperfect to talk about habitual actions of the past
• Using the preterite and imperfect in the same sentence: Completed vs. ongoing


  Preterite: completed

  Imperfect: ongoing (mientras)

  Together: what was happening when another action took place (ex: yo no vi el final del partido (P). Estaba(I) en la concina cuando termino (P)
• Using the preterite and imperfect in the same sentence: background vs. completed actions


  Completed = preterite (they + verb + verb)

  background = imperfect (W.A.T.E.R.)
• Using the preterite and imperfect in the same sentence: action vs. setting


  Setting: imperfect (describes conditions that caused the action, or emphasizes the habitual nature of the action)

  action: preterite (narrates the actions)
• When to use que?

  refers to things and people (that, which, who)
• When to use quien?

  refers only to people (who/whom)
• When to use lo que?

  refers to a situation (what, that, which)
• What are the verbs commonly used to express reciprocal actions?


  abrazarse (z->c) (to embrace)

  besarse (to kiss each other)

  darse la mano (to shake hands)

  encontrarse (o->ue) (to meet ; someone somewhere)

  quererse (to love/be fond of each other)

  saludarse (to greet each other)