used to and

Question

Hi,

Is to say for instant "I used to read book" and " I was reading a book" is same in spanish?

Answer 1

"I used to read a book" would be translated "Solía leer un libro" (I was in the habit of reading a book) or "Leía un libro". I would use the first if it was something I did frequently over a period of time.

"I was reading a book" can also be translated "leía un libro", but a closer translation would be "estaba leyendo un libro".

We may have some disagreement on this. I'm always open to suggestions from other members of the forum.

Calvo

Answer 2

I think that if you say I used to read a book the statement needs to be qualified by a frequency scale often, three times a week, in bed at night etc. then you could use the verb soler, Solía leer un libro todos las noches, I used to read a book every night, and to say that you do read a book every night at the present time you would say: Suelo leer un libro todos las noches, and to use the gerund you would say something like Cuando Eric me llamö estaba leyendo un libro, When Eric called me I was reading a book.

Answer 3

Just looking at 'I used to read a book' I was wondering when that actually might be used in practice and then I saw Ken's answer!

Another case where you might use that construction in the singular would be if you were referring to a specific book. 'I used to read the Bible'.

I think it is much more likely to come up in the plural - 'I used to read books'. Both these examples describe a habitual action in the past and therefore the imperfect tense - simply;

Leía los libros

Not sure if the definite article is required - it looks right to me.

'I was reading a book' has a somewhat different meaning in English and Calvo's past continuous 'estaba leyendo ... sounds more exact to an English ear.