Viví o vivía

[BobRitter]

Just when I think I'm getting it!

Yo vivi en Asia hace diez años.
Yo vivía en Asia hace diez años. ( This is from Rosetta Stone )

Both are "I lived in Asia 10 years ago" correct?

There is a bit of a difference, I think. Can anyone explain?

Google says "I lived in Asia for ten years." Incorrect, true?

How do you say "I lived in Asia for ten years." ?
Yo vivi en Asia por diez años.

I have lived in Asia for ten years.
Yo he vivido en Asia desde diez años.

Thanks in advance, Bob Ritter, Pensacola, Florida, USA

[aleCcowaN]

Past simple: viví
Past imperfect: vivía

past simple has "sharp edges", so to speak. The action started and finished, and you want it to be part of your speech. The action has surely stopped at the time of speaking

past imperfect has "round edges". The action has no beginning nor end -it has those, but you are not interested in pointing that-. It is settled in the past but it is not clear whether the action continues today.

Yo vivía en Asia hace diez años ---> this informs your whereabouts a that moment and it's probably setting the context for another action "yo vivía en Asia cuando demolieron el Muro de Berlín"

Yo viví en Asia hace diez años ---> a bit strange sentence: it certainly points to you present experience (having lived in Asia is part of it) but I wouldn't say you lived there much time.

Past imperfect or subjunctive mood can't be explained, not even a 0.1%, in a post or forum thread, so, don't get discourage if you don't understand it the first time -or second, or third-.

[BobRitter]

Would the imperfect "yo vivía en Asia cuando demolieron el Muro de Berlín" be like
"I was living in Asia when they tore down........."?
Is there a better way to simply say "Yo vivi..........."
Thanks.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by BobRitter

Would the imperfect "yo vivía en Asia cuando demolieron el Muro de Berlín" be like
"I was living in Asia when they tore down........."?

Right

Originally Posted by BobRitter

Is there a better way to simply say "Yo vivi..........."
Thanks.

You can say "viví en Asia" or say "viví en Asia durante 10 años" or "viví en Asia desde 1995 hasta 2005" but you can't say "yo viví en Asia cuando demolieron el Muro..." because it would almost mean that you moved to Asia immediately and as a consequence of them tearing down the wall. But don't get discouraged because it's not easy to master but soon you'll be able to process it.