Today's " Imperfect - or - Preterit "

Question

Hola, y bienvenido al foro abierto de Español en SpanishDict.com. Hello, and welcome to the open forum at SpanishDict.com

As you already know, English has 7 tenses and Spanish has 13.

Today we will examine the preterite and imperfect Spanish tenses.

I will select the verb that we will use.

I will tell you its verb meaning…in general.

I will also give you the verbs conjugations.

You will need to select one of the conjugations and use it in a sentence.

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Examples : ( Caminar – to walk ) - Caminó solo. ( He walked alone. )

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Please answer in Spanish and English. Please use ‘clip art” if you have it.

And please…enjoy yourself.

Como ya lo sabes, el inglés tiene 7 tiempos y español tiene 13.

Hoy examinaremos los tiempos pretérito e imperfecto de español.

Seleccionaré el verbo que utilizaremos.

Les diré la significación del verbo…por lo general.

También les daré las conjugaciones del verbo.

Tendrán que seleccionar una de las conjugaciones y utilizarla en una frase.

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Por ejemplo: (to walk) – He walked alone. ( Caminó solo )

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Por favor conteste en español y en inglés.

Por favor use ‘el arte de clip” si usted lo tiene. Y por favor … ¡ diviértanse!

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Los verbos serán ; “to walk – Caminar ”

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The verbs will be ; “ Caminar – to walk ”

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El pretérito –

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caminé, caminaste. caminó, caminamos, caminasteis, caminaron

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El imperfecto –

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caminaba,caminabas,caminaba,caminábamos,caminabais, caminaban

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Choose one conjugation and use it in a sentence. Escojan una conjugación y utilícenla en una fraze.

( Caminar – to walk )

Escríbamela en inglés y español...por favor. Write it for me in English and Spanish please. ¡Incluyan caudros/dibujos…cuando los prefieran! Include pictures/drawings…when you prefer them!

viejito - I would like to know what you think the 7 English tenses are? - ian-hill, Sep 21, 2012

The answer has bent sent to your mail box. Thanks for asking. :) - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

Answer 1

Cuando era estudiante universitaria, caminaba varias millas al día hacía y desde mis clases.

When I was a university student, I walked several miles a day to and from my classes.

:) - viejito, Sep 25, 2012

Answer 2

Mi cachorro no caminaba en el campo conmigo ayer. Él no tenía suficiente energía. Es un poco perezoso.

My puppy didn't walk with me in the country yesterday. He didn't have enough energy. He's a little lazy. (I used imperfect because he never has enough energy.)

[1]: http://

Country-campo. Since you are not indicating that this is an ongoing process, I probably would have worded it,”Mi cachorro no anduvo/caminó conmigo en el campo ayer.” The rest of the sentence is fine. Good luck with your studies,Worth a vote☺ - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

I wonderend about using preterite since I indicated a definite timeframe. Does this make a difference? I take a dog walking every day, not this one. It's ongoing in that regard. What do you think? Do you still prefer preterite form? - rheit, Sep 22, 2012

Time frames are important preterit markers. Your dog didn’t not walk with you as usual in the park yesterday? How many times did he usually walk with you in the park yesterday? - viejito, Sep 23, 2012

I might have said, “Mi perro no anduvo conmigo en el parque ayer … como lo haría todos los días.” Just food for thought/idea. Thanks ☺ - viejito, Sep 23, 2012

Answer 3

Caminamos por la playa a la puesta de sol, agarrando manos.

They walked by the beach at sunset, holding hands.

:) - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

Answer 4

Terminé comiendo la cena y el pollo frito fue delicioso.

I finished eating dinner and the fried chicken was delicious.

In English, “ I finished eating” is a colloquilism abreviated for “ I have finshed eating.” The omission of “have” is common,but it’s existence is still understood. - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

I would have said,“He terminado de cenar y el pollo frito era delicioso.’ I opted for “era” because I can still taste it. Just an idea/opinion. Thanks, ☺ - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

Answer 5

Caminaba todos los días, pero ahora lo hago con menos frecuencia.

I used to walk every day, but now I do it less frequently.

:) - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

Answer 6

Caminé a la clase el domingo pasado

I walked to class last Sunday

I would have said, “Caminé a la clase el domingo pasado.” Thanks, worth the vote. ☺ - viejito, Sep 21, 2012

Thank you - 0013ed10, Sep 21, 2012

Answer 7

Cuando era jovencita, caminábamos al colégio todos los días,no importa que tiempo hacía.

When I was little we walked to school every day , in all weathers.

Me too. :) - viejito, Sep 21, 2012

For those beginners who are trying to learn Spanish, a more elaborate translation of this sentence is – “ When I was a young girl, we would walk to school every day, it didn’t matter what the weather was like.” Thanks for the nice sentence. ☺ - viejito, Sep 21, 2012

Gracias! - annierats, Sep 21, 2012

Answer 8

viejito - I would like to know what you think the 7 English verb tenses are? Please.

Also your profile tells us nothing about you. It would be nice to know something.

Thanks-

In English, there are three basic tenses: present, past, and future. Each has a simple form; Each has a perfect form, indicating completed action; each has a proggressive form, indicating ongoing action; and each has a perfect form, indicating ongoing action that will be completed at some definite time.

Some would argue, and one might think that three tenses x four forms would be twelve. But, the consensus accepted by most is that the forms are not preceived as being co-dependent, but rather encompassing a broad spectrum. Thus, they are perceived as being added too. So, 3 + 4 = 7.

Good question. The rest has been sent to your mail box. Thanks for asking. -viejito

The answer has been sent to your individual mail. Thanks for asking. :) - viejito, Sep 22, 2012

Nothing arrived yet amigo :) - ian-hill, Sep 23, 2012

By the way I don't agree with you explanation above :) - ian-hill, Sep 23, 2012

According to La Real Academia Española there are 17 Spanish verb tenses. - ian-hill, Sep 23, 2012

And there are 12 accepted English verb tenses. :) - ian-hill, Sep 23, 2012

Anything else causes confusion. - ian-hill, Sep 23, 2012

I checked “Gramática descriptiva de la lengua española”, “A new reference Grammar of Modern Spanish”, and referenced “La Real Academia Española”…and you are right. Thanks, Viejito - viejito, Sep 23, 2012