In Spanish stories, the preterite tense is super important for talking about events that happened at a specific time.

Here’s when to use it:

1. Completed Actions:
Use the preterite for actions that have a clear beginning and end.
Example: Ayer, Juan fue al mercado. (Yesterday, Juan went to the market.)

2. Sequence of Events:
This is used when you tell a list of finished actions.
Example: Primero, ella salió de casa; luego, compró pan. (First, she left home; then, she bought bread.)

3. Specific Time Frames:
Use the preterite when the action happened at a certain time.
Example: En 1999, ellos viajaron a España. (In 1999, they traveled to Spain.)

4. Interrupting Actions:
This tense is for actions that interrupt other actions happening at the same time. Those are usually in the imperfect tense.
Example: Estaba leyendo cuando de repente sonó el teléfono. (I was reading when suddenly the phone rang.)

5. Narration of Past Events:
Use the preterite when you want to tell a story about the past.
Example: Una vez, un dragón atacó el pueblo. (Once, a dragon attacked the village.)

Understanding these rules will help you get better at telling and analyzing Spanish stories!