How do I know whether to congugate in preterite vs imperfect?

Question

Clark (ser) Superhombre! Clark (pasar) 10 meses con su familia adoptiva en Kansas y entonces (empezar) a trabajar como reportero.

I need help knowing how to use preterite and imperfect properly. I know there is something like age/ weather to know whether its imperfect or preterite. I just want to understand. Could u explain to me what those 3 verbs are. ( preterite or imperfect)

Clark is superman! It has been 10 months that he has lived with his adoptive family in Kansas and started to work as a reportor.

Help appreciated

I can hardly wait for the answer to this one. - Leatha, Jan 1, 2011

mass6694, Please capitalize your sentences(Title), Thank You. - 002262dd, Jan 1, 2011

Personal prounoun, "I" is always capitalized, Question mark required(Title). - 002262dd, Jan 1, 2011

Ten months!! Must have been the youngest reporter ever! - samdie, Jan 2, 2011

Answer 1

There are rules here against doing other people's homework, but I can tell you that the text in Spanish will have mistakes no matter which tense you choose, because the text have mistakes even without those verbs.

Give it a try! We are here to help you learn, not to do your homework without having to lift a finger!

ok, im just studying for a final. i don't care for a grade, if u think im some lazy person who doesn't feel like doing his homework, think again. Im a high school student trying to learn so i can get an A. im sorry if im asking for an explanation. - Mas6694, Jan 1, 2011

@Lazarus: Just a suggestion that might polish up your sentence. "...so you get an A and you don't speak at all" → "...so that you can get an A without having to lift a finger/do a thing/put in any effort of your own. - Izanoni1, Jan 1, 2011

ok, are you making fun of me? Im a high school student, we first lean grammar. Im sorry that i can ask for help, if i don't speak the language fluently. - Mas6694, Jan 1, 2011

You're right, Izanoni1. I should read what I write every now and then. It didn't look natural at all... even in Spanish! - lazarus1907, Jan 1, 2011

...that i can't ask for help - Mas6694, Jan 1, 2011

Answer 2

preterite is used to state what already happened andthe imperfect is an ongoing action with no beginning or no end.

thanks, thats all what im asking - Mas6694, Jan 1, 2011

spanishlearn, please capitalize your sentences, people ary learning English here as well. - 002262dd, Jan 1, 2011