If the Pretérito Perfeito is a snapshot of a finished event, the Pretérito Imperfeito is like a video or a painting. We use it to talk about the "good old days", describe settings, or explain what was happening in the background.
If the Pretérito Perfeito is a snapshot of a finished event, the Pretérito Imperfeito is like a video or a painting. We use it to talk about the "good old days", describe settings, or explain what was happening in the background.
When to use it:
Past Habits: Things you used to do repeatedly.
Descriptions in the Past: Talking about age, time, weather, or feelings.
Ongoing Actions: Things that were interrupted.
Keywords to look for:
Antigamente (In the old days)
Muitas vezes (Often)
Todos os dias (Every day - in the past)
Naquele tempo (At that time)
Mastering this tense is the key to telling good stories in Portuguese!