Today was a bad day: preterit or imperfect.

Question

I find this concept SO difficult to master. Please help. I'm also not 100% sure whether I have to use ser or estar here, so we actually have 4 options here >.<

Hoy era/fue un día malo.

Statistically, I would have a 25% chance of providing the right answer. :) - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

I feel confident it would be preterit but I can only guess that it would be ser.. someone else will be able to explain it. O.o It's confusing, we'll get the hang of iit eventually! - rabbitwho, Sep 7, 2011

You'd have a 50% chance of providing a half right answer though dogwood! I liked those ods so I went with it! - rabbitwho, Sep 7, 2011

If I were to guess, I would say "Hoy fue un día malo". Pero soy pollo grande. :) - - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

There, s1 put it in the block. - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

Not malO? - S1r_Wakka, Sep 7, 2011

I think I fixed it and added "malo". - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

I think I have less than a 25% chance, but I think it is "mal". :) - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 1

I could describe today:

Hoy estuvo malo.

Or I could classify today:

Hoy fue un mal día.

Right?

I believe that you are correct ,Pesta:) - FELIZ77, Sep 7, 2011

You rock, Pesta! - territurtle, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 2

Ok, here's Sonrisa's beginner input.

I would use "ser" here because we are classifying today as bad.

The preterit should be used here because we are talking about today. It's not a general statement, which usually calls for the imperfect.

Hoy fue un mal día

:) - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

we would say : tuve un mal día, but not fue un mal dia, fue un día malo - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 3

Okay, enough comments.

Here's my guess

Hoy fue un día malo.

You'd think after all the bad days I've had, I could say that in Spanish.

I'll take my 50% chance and agree with you dogwood.Final answer. - heliotropeman, Sep 7, 2011

Gracias, helio! We'll see how it works out. :) - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

almsot there, malO - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2011

Gracias, amiga! :) - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 4

I will say "estar" as it is not a permanent state, place a bet here

My take on this would be:

Hoy está un dia del infierno

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, ser is it;) - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2011

Frank temp vs permenant is not always a reliable guide as Lazarus often points out - FELIZ77, Sep 7, 2011

Ufffff chin****** - pacofinkler, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 5

Par mí, hoy fue un día muy malo tambien. I have an account with Ladbrokes, I can pass on your bets, its even money now. Please start a Morning Line for us with superior beings such as Heidita and Lazarus. Insider information not accepted for betting purposes. ( The Morning Line, for those not in England is a program informing you about the day's racing and helping you select winners)

Funny. :) - pesta, Sep 8, 2011

Answer 6

I think using the preterite would mean that today was an event that is over, in which case it wouldn't be today anymore, so I would use the imperfect (or even the perfect since it is something in the past that continues to affect the present.)

You're probably right, but my guess is already on Morning Line. :) - 0066c384, Sep 7, 2011

Now that's the way to put it, Lorenzo!! - territurtle, Sep 7, 2011

Dogwood, your approach will help my betting, how can we work it to bet on events that have already happened? It would go better. - annierats, Sep 8, 2011

Answer 7

I would say that Ser is probably correct here. This was my first instinct.

I think that Preterite should be used here in preference to imperfect.

Hoy fue un mal día = Today was a bad day

I think that you could even say:

Hoy ha sido un mal día = Today has been a bad day

t may be one of those situations where it could be possible to use either preterite or imperfect but where each would carry a different meaning. I am not an expert in Spanish grammar so please wait for a native to confirm whether either could be used Pesta and I are obviously thinking along the same lines.

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi Español, por favor