Correct verb tense

Question

I am telling a story in the past and using the preterite and imperfect as appropriate. My sentence reads, "Dije, "¡mama no me falla ahora!"

In this scenario, should the tense of fallar be present?

Answer 1

It´s in quotations, so it should be as if you are telling her right now, but "fallar" should be in negative imperative: Dije "¡Mamá, no me falles ahora!"

I would also say, "Dije a mi Mama/dije a ella... - Sheily, Nov 4, 2012

I would too but with a personal pronoun. In real usage it would be more common to just say "Le dije a mi mamá que no se fallara," but I think Warzone is telling a story as if it were in print - 005faa61, Nov 4, 2012

Yes, it is in print. But i so apreciate your comments. It helps me understand things I might never know. - warzone, Nov 4, 2012

Answer 2

Besides, you should say:

Dije: Mamá, no me FALLES ahora

I should use the indirect object Le even when I am putting the phrase in quotations? - warzone, Nov 4, 2012

Answer 3

Hi, im a native spanish. ``Dije a mi mama/ dije a ella´´ is a mistake, wrong, bad...

You must say, Le dije a mi mamá /Le dije a mi madre/ Le dije a ella /Le dije If you have any question tell me. My email is [e-mail] And my facebook is http://www.facebook.com/KickingOffRumor Best regards from Spain!