Specific Preterite vs. Imperfect Question
Which would it be and why? I was sick today. (Estuve/estaba) enfermo hoy.
4 Answers
Zach:
I suggest that Lazarus" answer is correct. If you were sick today and it is still today when you are saying it then everything sounds very "here and now" or present tense. Neither preterite nor imperfect seems correct for this expression today about a today event.
On the other hand, if it is tomorrow or next week and you want to say "I was sick on Monday", it seems to me that a single day or a part of it is a "specific amount of time" where I would use the preterite.
On the other hand if it was tomorrow or next week and you want to say I was sick for a period of about ten days (or about a month)" that might qualify as "an extended period of (more or less) unspecified time in the past" where I would consider the use of the imperfect. I don't think any language police would arrest you for the use of the imperfect here.
Muchos saludos/Best regards,
Moe
The option that makes most sense to me is "Hoy estoy enfermo" (Today I am sick)
Thanks. Sorry I was in a rush when I wrote this question. I understand the preterite and imperfect pretty well, but this seems like an instance where it can go either way. I see it as it could be preterite because you were sick only for today or I can also see it as imperfect because it is not u were sick all day and there is no specific time the event happened. So I am asking, when translating the sentence I was sick today. Would it be Estuve enfermo hoy or Estaba enfermo hoy?
¡Hola!, Zach:
Are you looking for the question you posted earlier?? It is here ----> Zach Banks Question.
Or
Do you want additional material about Preterite & Imperfect? Look Here ----> Preterite & Imperfect.
If this is not what you want pleas clarify your question.
Muchos saludos/Best regards,
Moe
