Using the imperfect tense with the preterit tense

Question

can we use the phrases used with imperfect tense with the presnt tense or the preterit?

Punctuation! Can we ... - 002262dd, Jul 30, 2010

Answer 1

Well, you can describe what was happening in the imperfect, and then describe what is happening now. In that way, you can use imperfect and present tense in the same sentence. For example:

Estaba leyendo esta tarde pero ahora estoy limpiando mi cuarto.

I was reading this afternoon, but now I am cleaning my room.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Yes, you can use the imperfect tense to tell what was going on when something else happened, which uses the preterit tense.

For example,

Estaba estudiando cuando el teléfono sonó. (I was studying when the phone rang).

Nadaba cuando, de repente, un tiburón me atacó. (I was swimming when, suddenly, a shark attacked me).