Preterit vs. Imperfect...

The preterit and the imperfect reflect different ways of looking at the past.  They enable the speaker to express from different perspectives an action or an event that took place in the past. 

The preterit refers to:

1.      A single, completed past event, as well as a completed series of past events, actions or situations. 

Llegué al museo antes que los otros.

I arrived at the museum before the others.

2.      The beginning or the end of a past event or action

El programa de radio empezó a las ocho y terminó a las nueve.

The radio program began at eight and ended at nine. 

The imperfect refers to:

1.      Actions that were occurring at a particular time in the past

Pepe dormía a las once anoche. 

Pepe was sleeping at eleven last night.

2.      Customary actions in the past or a series of actions whose end is not indicated

Usted siempre iba a la playa los veranos.

You always use to go to the beach in the summer. 

3.      What used to happen in the past in contrast to what happened now.

Zeema estudiaba lenguas, pero ahora estudia química. 

Zeema use to study languages, now she studies chemistry. 

4.      What was going on when something occurred to interrupt it. 

El detective investigaba el crimen cuando ocurrió una explosion.

The detective was investigating the crime when an explosion occurred.

  Keep in mind that the Spanish speaker can express the same past event or action with the preterit or the imperfect, depending on their point of view. 

Miguel escribió muchas cartas.        Miguel wrote many letters.

Miguel escribía muchas cartas.        Miguel wrote (was writing, use to write) many letters.

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