How do i write in the preterite

Question

I have to write a short paragraph on my mothers favorite games from when she was young. It says to write in the preterit since I am speaking of the past. Help!

mother's - samdie, Nov 7, 2011

Answer 1

What is the sentence you need help in? Can any part of it be written in the imperfect?

Answer 2

All i can say is that you would have to use the imperfect to make the paragraph or the short story complete otherwise the reader is just going to read something that was written in the preterite and say "and?"

Answer 3

You can do it by mixing tenses (remember that the preterite is used mostly for actions viewed as completed in the past), but be aware of this usage:

The imperfect is used for telling time and stating one's age. (in the past)

• Eran las siete de la noche.

• It was seven o'clock at night.

  • La niña tenía cinco años.
  • The little girl was five years old.

¡Bienvenida al foro!

Welcome to the forum!

Answer 4

That's so crazy. For a situation like this, I could've sworn you'd use the imperfect.

Yes, people ages in the past are imperfect. Cuando era niño, cuando teniá diez anos - 0074b507, Nov 7, 2011

Too true! Yet frequently teachers give this kind of silly assignment to their students. It has nothing to do with the language as it's actually spoken; it's just a mechanical exercise. - samdie, Nov 7, 2011