Preterite & Imperfect tenses
A couple of says ago I posted a question regarding the preterite and imperfect tenses. I think I am getting there, but still confused and I am hoping someone can assist me again further.
Can I say:
Iba a una escuela pública y estudiaba muchas materias, como música y matemáticas.
Or do I need to say:
Fui a una escuela pública y estudiaba muchas materias, como música y matemáticas.
I THINK my first preference is right because I am saying something I used to do in the past. I am not referring to any specific time.
Just a bit confused if I can use "iba" for "I went"
Am I on the right track?
Many thanks
2 Answers
I think that you could use either depending on the context that you are using the sentence in.
Iba a una escuela.... I was going to a school (painting a background)
While there I met..... (some interrupting event or action using the preterite).
Fue a una escuela...
I went to a public school....
Then I entered a private preparatory school...
Next I entered a public university...
A list of events, completed and done with in the past using the preterite tense.
A starting, ending or definite duration in the past normally calls for the preterite, but also the contrast can be between ongoing or habitual (imperfect) and completed (preterite) in the past.
It's far from infallible in all contexts, but usually if was doing something (ongoing action in the past) is more appropriate to the context use the imperfect.
If the simple past, "did" something, is more appropriate to the context then the preterite is needed.
I would go with the first sentence. You have two thing happening at the same time, so you probably shouldn't mix the tenses. Since this is something that happened repeatedly over a period of time, imperfect would be my choice.
