Past Tenses in Spanish – How to Tell Stories & Describe Experiences
Join our Spanish Conversation Events—Led by Native, Expert Human Teachers (LIVE on Zoom).
This blueprint will help you prepare for this LIVE conversation event so you can participate actively, expand your Spanish skills, and engage in meaningful discussions 🚀
Welcome to this ElayaaHUB Spanish conversation event!
In this session, we’ll dive into the heart of storytelling and real-life expression: How to talk about your past experiences in Spanish using the correct past tenses.
We’ll explore when and how to use the Pretérito Perfecto, Pretérito Indefinido, and Pretérito Imperfecto to describe actions, situations, and emotions from your life.
You’ll gain confidence telling stories in Spanish with clarity and depth—whether you’re talking about childhood, a recent trip, or a meaningful moment.
Key Vocabulary & Expressions
Spanish words and phrases that will help you navigate this conversation 😊
1
Time Markers
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Yesterday – Ayer
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Last year – El año pasado
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When I was a child – Cuando era niño/a
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A few days ago – Hace unos días
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In 2019 – En 2019
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Once upon a time – Érase una vez
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Back then – En aquel entonces
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Recently – Recientemente
2
Verb Tenses in Action
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Pretérito Perfecto (he comido, has viajado...) — to talk about actions in the recent past with a connection to the present.
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Pretérito Indefinido (fui, comiste, vieron...) — to describe completed actions or moments in the past.
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Pretérito Imperfecto (era, tenía, vivían...) — to express background information, repeated actions, or states in the past.
3
Common Verbs in Storytelling
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To go – Ir
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To do/make – Hacer
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To see – Ver
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To live – Vivir
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To feel – Sentir
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To remember – Recordar
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To tell – Contar
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To discover – Descubrir
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To dream – Soñar
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To change – Cambiar
4
Useful Phrases
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I remember when... – Recuerdo cuando...
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At that time... – En ese momento...
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We used to... – Solíamos...
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One day, I decided to... – Un día, decidí...
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It was an unforgettable experience – Fue una experiencia inolvidable
Reflection Question 🌱
¿Qué historia personal te gusta compartir con los demás, y qué te enseñó esa experiencia?
What personal story do you enjoy sharing with others, and what did that experience teach you?
Consider writing down your thoughts in Spanish to warm up for the event!💡
Beyond Language ✨
"Telling a story is more than using the right verbs—it's bringing the past to life with presence.
When we narrate our memories in Spanish, we learn to see our experiences not as fixed events, but as evolving parts of who we are.
Every imperfect verb holds a pattern. Every completed action reminds us of our transformation. And every reflection in a new language reminds us that we are always more than one version of ourselves.
To speak your story is to reclaim it—and to choose who you become next."
LIVE on Zoom – Ready to Join? 🚀
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