We were eating. "Estábamos comiendo".

Question

Hello all, it's Vivi again,

I have a question regarding the Imperfect Tense. My study group and I were doing a translation for the following sentence.

1. We were eating.

I said the answer was "Estábamos comiendo". However, another member from my study group said the answer was "Nos comías". Being that there was just the two of us in disagreement, I really have no idea what the correct answer is. Which is correct, or are they both right?

Thanks, Vivi

HI vivi, please put your question in the title, otherwise, very nice thread. - 00494d19, SEP 13, 2009

Answer 1

There are several correct answers, like "estábamos comiendo", "estuvimos comiendo", "comíamos", depending on context. "Nos comías" is wrong, though.

Answer 2

Oh geez.....thanks for the translation.

BTW, who's Marianne???

It's me! Heidi was responding to a comment I made (above). - --Mariana--, SEP 13, 2009

Answer 3

Vivi Said

BTW, who's Marianne

A very nice lady from Massachusetts who has been extremely helpful on this site.

Awww...thanks, Eddy! - --Mariana--, SEP 13, 2009

Answer 4

But what exactly does "Nos comías" translate to?

Oh no, Marianne, it makes pefect sense among canibals.

Nos comías: You were eating us.

jejeje...I never thought of that!! - --Mariana--, SEP 13, 2009

well, if you have been eating or are in the process of being masticated and swalloed, then is sure that you are not going to say nos comias, you might say help. - 00769608, SEP 13, 2009

Answer 5

Cool. I thought so, because the "nos" would make it reflexive. But what exactly does "Nos comías" translate to?

-Vivi

It really doesn't make any sense. Like you say "nos" is trying to make "comías" (you used to eat) reflexive. - --Mariana--, SEP 13, 2009

The most obvious interpretation is "you (singular) were eating us", but the "nos" could also be used as an "dativo de interés". - Vikingo, SEP 13, 2009