Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Practice & Homework


Preterito imperfecto o indefinido

 

Practice Spanish or English here. All replies to a thread should be in the same language as the first post.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old April 08, 2009, 01:30 PM
deborahj's Avatar
deborahj deborahj is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Greece, one of the ionion islands
Posts: 69
Native Language: English
deborahj is on a distinguished road
Preterito imperfecto o indefinido

Si quiero decir algo sobre el pasado, ¿qual es correcto?

Estaba en un restaurante y estuve en un restaurante

Muchas gracias.

Debbie
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old April 08, 2009, 01:47 PM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Davidísimo
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,664
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
Puedes usar los dos, pero tienen significados distintos.

Estaba en un restaurante = I was in a restaurant
Estuve en un restaurante = I was in a restaurant

What's the difference?

1. You use the imperfect for background information, and you use the preterit for actions that happen.

Estaba en un restaurante cuando vi la explosión en el estacionamiento = I was in a restaurant when I saw the explosion in the parking lot
Estuve en un restaurante = I was in a restaurant

2. You also use the imperfect for things that may or may not be already finished at the present time, and preterit for things that you know are finished.

Estaba en un restaurante = I was in a restaurant (but you could still be in the restaurant for all we know)
Estuve en un restaurante = I was in a restaurant (but you are not anymore)

Hope that helps!
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old April 08, 2009, 02:35 PM
deborahj's Avatar
deborahj deborahj is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Greece, one of the ionion islands
Posts: 69
Native Language: English
deborahj is on a distinguished road
Hola David,

Me he ayudado mucho.

Gracias

Debbie
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old April 08, 2009, 04:33 PM
CrOtALiTo's Avatar
CrOtALiTo CrOtALiTo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Mérida, Yucatán
Posts: 11,686
Native Language: I can understand Spanish and English
CrOtALiTo is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by deborahj View Post
Si quiero decir algo sobre el pasado, ¿cual es correcto?

Estaba en un restaurante y estuve en un restaurante

Muchas gracias.

Debbie
They are both are right, I can't see any wrong in that. But you can say I estuve en un restaurant ayer.

Estaba y estube are the verb in past in my language Spanish.
__________________
We are building the most important dare for my life and my family feature now we are installing new services in telecoms.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old April 09, 2009, 03:37 AM
deborahj's Avatar
deborahj deborahj is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Greece, one of the ionion islands
Posts: 69
Native Language: English
deborahj is on a distinguished road
Muchas gracias Crotalito
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old April 09, 2009, 11:01 AM
CrOtALiTo's Avatar
CrOtALiTo CrOtALiTo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Mérida, Yucatán
Posts: 11,686
Native Language: I can understand Spanish and English
CrOtALiTo is on a distinguished road
You're welcome.
__________________
We are building the most important dare for my life and my family feature now we are installing new services in telecoms.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
el pretérito y el imperfecto gramatica Grammar 4 April 08, 2008 08:40 PM
el indefinido y el imperfecto gramatica Grammar 4 April 01, 2008 08:07 PM
el pretérito y el imperfecto para expresarr una opinión gramatica Grammar 6 January 12, 2008 10:42 PM
el imperfecto v. el preterito gramatica Grammar 7 July 22, 2007 02:19 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:36 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X