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Get hints on preterite vs. imperfect without the answers
- For High school students
- You practice Setting limits and rules
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
Your Spanish 3 homework asks you to choose preterite or imperfect in 4 sentences. It's graded, so you want hints, not answers. Get exactly 4 numbered hints, one per sentence, each an English question under 15 words that points to a clue word in that sentence. Never say which tense to use or give the verb form. Under 80 words, plain text.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Getting the answers. Ask for 'help' and the AI fills in every blank, which is copying and teaches you nothing. Try: Add: "Don't tell me the tense or the verb form. Just hints."
- Vague hints. The AI's hints repeat the rule ('think about completed actions') without pointing at your sentence. Try: Add: "Each hint points to the clue word in that sentence."
- No shape. The AI explains both tenses at length before reaching your sentences. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 4 numbered hints, each an English question to me, under 15 words."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over. Try: Cap each hint: "each under 15 words."
- Forgetting where it's going. AI adds bold and headings that show up as stray symbols in your homework sheet. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."
What a strong prompt includes
- Says no answers
- Points to clue words
- Says how many hints
- Asks for questions
- Sets a length limit
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