What is the difference between the preterite and the imperfect tenses?

In Spanish, there are two past tenses: the preterite and the imperfect. It can be difficult to know when to use each one so it's important to learn a breakdown of when each tense should be used. Below I am going to explain how to form regular verbs in both the preterite and imperfect, and a description of when to use each one with examples.PreteriteGenerally speaking, the preterite is used for completed actions in the past.To form the preterite, you remove the -ar, -er or the -ir from the verb in the infinitive form then add the following endings.-AR -ER / -IRé íaste isteó ióamos imosasteis isteisaron ieronExamples:Fui a España el año pasado (I went to Spain last year)Mi hermana me llamó anoche (My sister rang me last night)ImperfectGenerally speaking, the imperfect is used for INcompleted actions in the past, or past actions where the beginning and end of an action isn't definite.-AR -ER / -IRaba íaabas íasaba íaábamos íamosabais íaisaban íanExamples:Cuando era niño, jugaba al tenis. (When I was a child, I used to play tennis.)Yo no quería ir al supermercado. (I did not want to go to the supermarket.)