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      Una peli de Guillermo del Toro: imperfect and preterite tenses

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use the imperfect and preterite tenses to describe a film.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. The imperfect tense is used for descriptions, giving background information and ongoing events in the past.
      2. The preterite tense is used for completed events in the past.
      3. We use the 3rd person singular and plural when we talk about a film.

      Keywords

      • Imperfect - verb tense used to talk about something that used to happen repeatedly and to set the scene in past-tense accounts

      • Preterite - verb tense used to talk about something completed in the past and to drive the narrative forward in past-tense accounts

      • 3rd person - form of pronouns and verbs used to refer to 'she', 'he', 'it' (singular) or ‘they’ (plural)

      Common misconception

      To describe the past we can use both the preterite and the imperfect interchangeably.

      We use the imperfect to set the scene, to give background information and to describe onling states. And we use the preterite to express completed actions that move the plot forward.

      Teacher tip

      The teacher might want to show students the trailer of 'El Laberinto del Fauno'.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these words means 'affection'?

      escena
      cine
      Correct answer: cariño
      crítica
      juventud

      Q2.
      Match the Spanish to the English.

      Correct Answer:asegurar,to assure, assuring
      Correct Answer:mandar,to send, sending
      Correct Answer:castigar,to punish, punishing
      Correct Answer:abrazar,to hug, hugging
      Correct Answer:aparecer,to appear, appearing
      Correct Answer:confiar,to trust, trusting

      Q3.
      Order the words to say: 'At night, the cinema was empty.'

      1 - por
      2 - la
      3 - noche
      4 - el
      5 - cine
      6 - estaba
      7 - vacío

      Q4.
      Match the Spanish to the English.

      Correct Answer:conocido,well known
      Correct Answer:enfadado,angry
      Correct Answer:roto,broken
      Correct Answer:irritante,irritating
      Correct Answer:profundo,profound
      Correct Answer:pesado,annoying

      Q5.
      'Cada prueba era más peligrosa.'. Translate this sentence into English.

      Correct Answer: Each test was more dangerous

      Q6.
      'The girl appeared in the museum.'. Translate this sentence into Spanish.

      Correct Answer: La niña apareció en el museo

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these words are prepositions?

      débil
      pueblo
      finalmente
      Correct answer: por
      Correct answer: sobre

      Q2.
      Match the Spanish to the English.

      Correct Answer:gusto,pleasure, taste
      Correct Answer:película,film
      Correct Answer:personaje,character
      Correct Answer:protección,protection
      Correct Answer:respeto,respect
      Correct Answer:tema,theme, topic

      Q3.
      'Esa noche, la niña __________ el silbida del viento.'. Which word best completes this sentence?

      escuchaba
      vio
      escucha
      Correct answer: escuchó
      veía

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'The protagonist had to follow complicated instructions.'

      1 - la
      2 - protagonista
      3 - tenía
      4 - que
      5 - seguir
      6 - instrucciones
      7 - complicadas

      Q5.
      'Había un bosque mágico.'. Translate this sentence into English.

      Correct Answer: There was a magical forest

      Q6.
      'The creature promised to guide her.'. Translate this sentence into Spanish.

      Correct Answer: La criatura prometió guiarla

      To help you plan your 11 Spanish lesson on: Una peli de Guillermo del Toro: imperfect and preterite tenses, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...