Lesson 1 of 6
Present and Past
Past Tense Primer
Focus on meaning: is this happening now, or are we hearing about before? Read each pair. Click the examples to check the English. The names and situations stay familiar as the time changes.
Key Vocabulary
These useful expressions will help you follow the stories. Read for meaning; you do not need to memorize the forms.
| Present | Past | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hay | había | there is / there was |
| es | era | is / was |
| está | estaba | is / was |
| quiere | quería | wants / wanted |
| tiene | tenía | has / had |
| va | fue | goes / went |
| va | iba | goes / was going, used to go |
| dice | dijo | says / said |
| le gusta | le gustaba | likes / liked |
Expressions in context
Ejemplos
Read now and before together. Reveal the meaning when you need it.
1. Ahora hay agua. Antes había agua.
Now there is water. Before, there was water.
2. Ahora Ana es camarera. Antes era camarera.
Now Ana is a waitress. Before, she was a waitress.
3. Ahora está en casa. Antes estaba en casa.
Now she is at home. Before, she was at home.
4. Ahora quiere comer. Antes quería comer.
Now she wants to eat. Before, she wanted to eat.
5. Ahora tiene hambre. Antes tenía hambre.
Now she is hungry. Before, she was hungry.
6. Hoy va al jardín. Ayer fue al jardín.
Today she goes to the garden. Yesterday she went to the garden.
7. Ahora dice «Hola». Ayer dijo «Hola».
Now she says “Hello.” Yesterday she said “Hello.”
8. Ahora le gusta leer. Antes le gustaba leer.
Now she likes reading. Before, she liked reading.
9. Antes iba al jardín todos los días. Ayer fue al jardín una vez.
Before, she used to go to the garden every day. Yesterday she went to the garden once.
Iba can mean “used to go” or “was going.” Fue can mean “went.” You will also see fue meaning “was,” from ser: Fue un día difícil — It was a difficult day. Let the whole sentence help you understand.
Now → before
Select a Spanish word, then select its English meaning to make a match.
Spanish
English
What does it mean?
Select a Spanish word, then select its English meaning to make a match.
Spanish
English
Now or before?
Decide first, then reveal the answer. Ahora = now; antes = before.
Cierto/Falso
Click or tap the sentences to reveal the true/false answers and check your comprehension.
1. «Ana quiere comer» tells us what Ana wants now.
✅ Cierto
2. «Ana estaba en casa» tells us where Ana is now.
❌ Falso. It tells us where Ana was before.
3. «A Ana le gustaba leer» describes what she liked before.
✅ Cierto
4. «Ana dijo hola» means Ana says hello now.
❌ Falso. It means Ana said hello before.
Follow a tiny story
Ayer Ana estaba en casa. Tenía hambre y quería comer. Fue al jardín. Allí1 había un tomate. Ana comió2 el tomate. Ahora está en casa y no tiene hambre.
Understand the events
Select a Spanish word, then select its English meaning to make a match.
Spanish
English
Ordena las palabras
Drag the words or phrases to form the most logical complete sentence.
Keyboard: Tab to a word or phrase, then use the left and right arrow keys to move it.
Answer from the short story about Ana above.
Multiple-Choice Comprehension
Select the "best-fit" answer based on the listening/reading from this lesson.
1. ¿Por qué quería comer Ana?
2. ¿Adónde fue Ana?
3. ¿Qué comió Ana?
4. ¿Cómo está Ana ahora?
Complete the Sentences
Use the bank. Each sentence gives two choices; type the one that fits this story about yesterday.
Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz
Complete the sentences using the most appropriate word or phrase from the list. You can click or tap on a word from the list to reveal its definition.
Conversation Questions
Answer aloud or in writing about your own life. Use the sentence starters or another answer that is true for you. These questions are not graded.