| A | B |
|---|
| MIENTRAS | while (used with imperfect) |
| CUANDO | when (used with preterite) |
| LA SOPA ESTABA FRÍA | The soup was cold (description) |
| ERA VIERNES POR LA NOCHE. | It was Friday night. (sets the scene) |
| EL PIANISTA TOCABA MIENTRAS LOS CLIENTES HABLABAN | The pianist played WHILE the clients talked. (both were going on at same time) |
| ANOCHE EL PIANISTA TOCÓ Y LOS CLIENTES COMIERON. | The pianist played AND the clients ate. (both happened last night) |
| MI AMIGO ME DIJO QUE ESTABA ENFERMO | My friend told me that he was sick (and still is) |
| MI AMIGO ME DIJO QUE ESTUVO ENFERMO | My friend told me that he was sick (but it's over now) |
| TE DIJE QUE NO LO QUERÍA | I told you that I didn't want it. |
| TE DIJE QUE NO VENÍAN | I told you that they weren't coming |
| TE DIJE QUE NO VINIERON. | I told you that they didn't come. |
| NOS DIJO QUE NO NOS ESCUCHABA | He told us that he wasn't listening to us. |
| NOS DIJO QUE NO NOS OYÓ | He told us that he didn't hear us. |
| ME PREGUNTARON QUÉ HACÍA | They asked me what I was doing. |
| ME PREGUNTARON QUÉ HICE. | They asked me what I did. |
| ERAN LAS OCHO DE LA NOCHE | It was 8:00 at night. (time is always imperfect) TWA |
| HACÍA MUCHO CALOR AYER. | It was really hot yesterday (weather is always imperfect) TWA |
| CUANDO YO TENÍA 12 AÑOS, TUVE UN PERRO | When I was 12 years old, I got a dog. |
| CUANDO YO TENÍA 12 AÑOS, TENÍA UN PERRO. | When I was 12 years old, I had a dog. |
| ÍBAMOS AL PARQUE TODOS LOS VERANOS | We used to go to the park every summer. |
| FUIMOS AL PARQUE ANOCHE | We went to the park last night |
| DE NIÑO, NO ME GUSTABAN LOS VEGETALES | As a child, I didn't like vegetables. |
| NO ME GUSTARON LOS VEGETALES QUE COMIMOS. | I didn't like the vegetables that we ate. |
| LLOVÍA MUCHO DURANTE LOS VERANOS | It used to rain a lot during the summers |
| LLOVIÓ MUCHO EL VERANO PASADO | It rained a lot last summer. |
| ASADO/A/OS/AS | roasted (adj) |
| BALANCEADO/A/OS/AS | balanced (adj) |
| COCIDO/A/OS/AS | cooked (adj) |
| CONGELADO/A/OS/AS | frozen (adj) |
| DERRETIDO/A/OS/AS | melted (adj) |
| FRITO/A/OS/AS | fried (adj) |
| HERVIDO/A/OS/AS | boiled (adj) |
| HORNEADO/A/OS/AS | baked (adj) |
| PICADO/A/OS/AS | diced/chopped (adj) |
| QUEMADO/A/OS/AS | burned (adj) |
| REVUELTO/A/OS/AS | stirred/scrambled (adj) |
| TOSTADO/A/OS/AS | toasted (adj) |
| EL COCINERO DIJO QUE A LA SOPA LE FALTABA SABOR | The cook said that the soup lacked flavor |
| TE DIJE QUE LOS MARISCOS ESTABAN ECHADOS A PERDER | I told you that the seafood was spoiled. |
| TE DIJE QUE LOS MARISCOS ESTABAN MUY FRESCOS | I told you that the seafood was very fresh. |
