Preterite or imperfect question

Question

If I am saying "I had a good time" would I use preterite or imperfect?

Hello, welcome to the forum! - rac1, Jan 18, 2013

Hi Avarose as you can see from the great answers that you have received, context is everything, both would be possible depending on context, but by itself the preterite would be the correct choice. - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 18, 2013

Answer 1

Actually, I disagree with the imperfect. Using the imperfect to me would sound like "I was having fun [until xxx happened.]

Like:

Me divertía hasta que mi mamá me dijo que regresara a casa.

I was having fun until my mom told me to come home.

When it stands alone, I'd use the preterit. It doesn't set the scene because we are just stating an action.

Me divertí mucho en la fiesta.

I had a good time at the party.

I agree with you. If someone asked me if I had a good time at the party last night, I would reply, "Sí, me divertí." - Azabache, Jan 18, 2013

estoy de acuerdo también :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 18, 2013

Answer 2

You would use the imperfect because you are describing a scene.

Preterite: a completed action ( I ran) Imperfect: a decription of a scene ( I was fat back then)

Ed, mira mi comentario. - BradyLabuda, Jan 18, 2013

Answer 3

Lo pasé muy bien en la Argentina. I had a good time in Argentina.

¿Lo pasaste bien? Did you have a good time?

Nos divertimos mucho en la fiesta. We had a good time at the party.

Espero que se diviertan. I hope you all have a good time.

Nice job Swampy :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 18, 2013

did you throw that pres subjunctive in at the end to put the cat amongst the pigeons? jeje (also I think you have a rogue 'la' before Argentina ;) ) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 18, 2013

The 'la' didn't look quite right to me either but I went by this."The names of certain countries, cities, and places are traditionally preceded by a lowercase definite article.The usage varies, so they must be learned individually." - swampy, Jan 18, 2013

I found this. In the English language, the country was traditionally called "the Argentine", mimicking the typical Spanish usage la Argentina.[22][23] This fell out of usage in English during the mid to late 20th century, and now the country is simply ref - swampy, Jan 18, 2013

red to as "Argentina". - swampy, Jan 18, 2013

guao you do do your homework, well done and now that you've reminded me it is ringing some distant bell jeje, thank you :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 18, 2013

Answer 4

Building on what Ed says about running, "Yesterday, I ran." would use the preterit, because the action of running has a specific beginning and end, yesterday.

Ayer, (yo) corrí.