En cuenta de/en cuanto a

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Rusty, you are making corrections, but I'm not grasping the meaning of one of your changes.

No pude- I failed (This phrase should be I can't)

I don't understand this correction.

Please, if you would be so kind as to give me more information about this, I would appreciate it.

Have a look at this website, where it shows the English meanings of no poder in both of the past tenses.

no puedo = I'm not able to -or- I can't
no podía = I wasn't able to -or- I couldn't
no pude = I failed to

[CrOtALiTo]

What does grasping mean?

[Rusty]

to grasp the meaning = lograr entender

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by chileno

Por cuenta de
= in behalf of

on behalf of

[Fazor]

Originally Posted by Rusty

no puedo = I'm not able to -or- I can't
no podía = I wasn't able to -or- I couldn't
no pude = I failed to

Now that I look at that again, that makes sense with my current understanding of pret v imperfect (which was, for the most part, the same as you explained).

No pude ir a el banco antes de cerró ayer. -You attempted to go, at a specific time (yesterday), but failed.

No podía ir a el banco ayer porqué trabajé hasta seis de la noche. -You didn't directly attempt to go, but you couldn't because of some circumstance.

Is that the right line of reasoning?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Fazor

Now that I look at that again, that makes sense with my current understanding of pret v imperfect (which was, for the most part, the same as you explained).

No pude ir al banco antes de que cerrara ayer. -You attempted to go, at a specific time (yesterday), but failed. (antes de que always requires the subjunctive mood)

No podía ir al banco ayer porqué trabajé hasta las seis de la noche. -You didn't directly attempt to go, but you couldn't because of some circumstance.

Is that the right line of reasoning?

Yes, you understand the concept. Take a good look at the website I posted for more information. Getting a grasp on when to use the imperfect and preterite tenses is a trouble spot for all of us learning Spanish.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Fazor

Now that I look at that again, that makes sense with my current understanding of pret v imperfect (which was, for the most part, the same as you explained).

No pude ir a el banco ayer porque cerro antesantes de cerró ayer. -You attempted to go, at a specific time (yesterday), but failed.


My attempt for this example should be.

I failed go to the bank because it close before.

I can't go to the back because it close before.

No podía ir a el banco ayer porqué trabajé hasta seis de la noche. -You didn't directly attempt to go, but you couldn't because of some circumstance.

I couldn't go to the bank yesterday because I worked until six clock.

I'm not sure in my translation.

Is that the right line of reasoning?

My suggestion above.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

on behalf of

jajaja that's right!