Checking sentences using the preterit, the imperfect, and negative/indefinite words

Question

Sentences about preterit, imperfect, and negative/indefinite words

Hola, amigos. I have some sentences. Would someone mind checking them? Thanks!

Negative and indefinite words have always given me trouble ...I don't know why, but they just do, jaja.

Any help will be much appreciated.

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1: As children, we went to the parque to play chess with our neighbors. Cuando éramos niños, íbamos al parque para jugar ajedrez con nuestros vecinos.

2: She looked at me when I asked the question. Ella me miró cuando pregunté la pregunta.

3: They never used any of that soap. Nunca usaron nada de ese jabón.

4: Some of the kids ate at that restaurant. Algunos de los niños comieron a ese restaurante.

5: The teacher was writing on the chalkboard when the bell rang. La maestra estaba escribiendo en la pizzara cuando el timbre sonó.

6: He was driving the car when he saw the accident. Estaba conduciendo el coche cuando vio el choque.

¡Gracias por su ayuda!

I am not advanced enough to correct you, but I am wondering why you said "comieron a ese restaurante" instead of "en". That was the only question I had, so I will be interested in the responses. :-) - Stadt, Jul 26, 2011

Answer 1

Ella me miró cuando pregunté la pregunta.

This sounds redundant and is missing the IO pronoun, so it would be better to say,"Ella me miró cuando le pregunté (la cosa).

Nunca usaron nada de ese jabón.

A little awkward, so I would say "Jamás usaron ese jabón."

The rest are good!

Thanks for the corrections, Julian! - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 26, 2011

Answer 2

Thanks, Stadt, for pointing this out!

Is "a ese restaurante" incorrect? Is "en" a better choice here? Now I'm second guessing my use of "a".

I always understood "a" to imply motion ("to") and "en" to imply a static situation "in" or "on", but I am less advanced than you, and way less than JulianChivi, and he seemed okay with it, so I am not sure? - Stadt, Jul 26, 2011

Sorry, SunSmile, I missed that one. Stadt is right, "en" is appropriate. "a" is OK if you say ".... fueron a comer a ese restaurant" - 005faa61, Jul 26, 2011

Thanks, I know "a" can translate sometimes to "at", but I was thinking only in cases where you could get some sense of motion or distance. - Stadt, Jul 26, 2011

Thanks, Stadt and Julian! - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 26, 2011