Should I use Preterito Perfecto or Preterito Indefinido

Question

Dear Spanish learners!

English for me is not my native language and in Russian we have another rules in Past Time if to compare with English or Spanish. I have to write small story right now and I'm wondering now if you could explain such thing in Spanish as:

If I want to say

Last 2 years I lived there (but now I don't live over there) - should I use Preterito Perfecto or Preterito Indefinido?

Answer 1

"Last 2 years I lived there (but now I don't live over there) - should I use Preterito Perfecto or Preterito Indefinido?"

Hi, Mari May, I am so impressed by your language skills! Truly! I took one year of Russian in college and loved it; it is a fascinating language for me!

To try to answer your question:

If you intend to say "I lived there two years ago" (for example, it is now 2010, and I lived there in 2008), you would say "Viví allí hace dos años."

If you intend to say "I lived there for two years" (for example, I lived there between 2007 and 2009), you would say "Viví allí por dos años."

In either case, the action is completed, so you would use the simple preterite tense.

I am hopeful that I have understood your question.

Once again, my total respect to you for your language skills.

Answer 2

Vivía en veracruz pero ahora vivo en Chiapas. Viví en Chiapas por 2 años hasta que vi a una hormiga tan grande. Those are just examples.

Answer 3

Dear Mountaingirl!

Many thanks for you explanations, I think I got it!

And thank you for your warm words And good for you that you studied Russian, cause I believe it is not easy language even for russians sometimes hehe)