Who???

[caliber1]

So I was asking a question at work today, but I got confused on what tense to use a verb when it references the subject "who".

The question is, "who installed it?"

Quien lo (instalar)?

If someone could clarify. I really just started understanding this stuff since I joined the forum last week. You guys, and gals , are truly an inspiration to me. You native Spanish speakers speak better English than I do!!!

[wrholt]

In this case, the only issue with "quién" is person/number agreement, and "quíén" and "who" both require third-person singular agreement, while "quiénes" requires third-person plural agreement.

However, there are two different simple past tenses, the preterite (or preterit in BrE spelling) and the imperfect. In this case, you are asking about a one-time event which has been completed, which corresponds best to the preterite. The question is:

¿Quién lo instaló?

[languagelover]

Originally Posted by wrholt

In this case, the only issue with "quién" is person/number agreement, and "quíén" and "who" both require third-person singular agreement, while "quiénes" requires third-person plural agreement.

However, there are two different simple past tenses, the preterite (or preterit in BrE spelling) and the imperfect. In this case, you are asking about a one-time event which has been completed, which corresponds best to the preterite. The question is:

¿Quién lo instaló?

100% in agreement. Great explanation!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by wrholt

However, there are two different simple past tenses, the preterite (or preterit in BrE spelling)

One microscopic quibble - the Oxford dictionary gives preterite (with preterit as an option, but I've never ever seen it in print)

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by wrholt

...However, there are two different simple past tenses, the preterite (or preterit in BrE spelling) and the imperfect....

Originally Posted by Perikles

One microscopic quibble - the Oxford dictionary gives preterite (with preterit as an option, but I've never ever seen it in print)

Good catch: I re-checked the appropriate chapter in Butt & Benjamin, where I remember seeing the spelling difference noted most recently, and discovered that I had mis-remembered: they claim that "preterite" is the preferred spelling it Britain, and "preterit" is more typical of the US. However, I remember preterite as the usual spelling.

[Luna Azul]

Good explanation, wrholt..

As for "preterite", that's the way I've always seen it and written it.

[caliber1]

Awesome! Thanks guys. And I concur; great explanation.