If I'm going to explain that I enjoyed myself...

Question

If I'm going to explain that I enjoyed myself while on holiday, do I use preterite or imperfecto?

I always thought I was supposed to use imperfecto since that is used for descriptions, but someone corrected me and said I had to use indefinido.

Ex.: I stayed in Mexico for 6 days and I enjoyed myself a lot.

I imagine it depends on what you want to say. Can you give us an example? - rodneyp, May 22, 2013

Answer 1

me quedé seis días en méxico y me lo pasé fenomenal/genial/la bomba

nice job :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 22, 2013

México - chileno, May 22, 2013

Answer 2

vengamujer:

I guess it depends of what you wanna say and how. In other words, context.

I stayed in Mexico for 6 days and I enjoyed myself a lot. = Me quedé en Mexico por 6 días y lo pasé muy bien.

Now, that could also be translated as if you were talking to someone about the several trips you have done worldwide and you can then say in Spanish:

Me quedaba por 6 días en Mexico (en esa ocasión), y lo pasé/pasaba muy bien.

See?

Answer 3

The first time I heard that phrasal verb, it sounded silly for me, "to enjoy oneself".

I would translate it as "divertirse".

Answer 4

When you use a specific time period that has clearly ended you would use the preterite otherwise it would sound like ...

I stayed in Mexico for 6 days and I was enjoying myself a lot.

?? Kiwi, pls explain youself, this is exaclty what Venga wants to say.. - annierats, May 22, 2013

'I was enjoying myself'? I don't think so Annie, he wants to say 'I enjoyed myself' so the preterite is needed, just as it is in English :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 23, 2013