fue or era.

Question

I want to ask someone if they had a good time with their family and friends who had come from abroad, should I say como era or fue tu tiempo con... I've tried looing it up but seem to get both results. Surely that can't be right?

¿ Como pasaste las vacaciones? or similar, as Margherite says. - annierats, Jul 12, 2013

Answer 1

to have a good time - pasar un buen rato

Answer 2

¿Te lo pasaste bien con tu familia? (Spain) ¿Te la pasaste bien con tu familia? (Latin America, y que me corrijáis si me equivoco, que creo haberlo escuchado así.)

En las Américas es lo miso que en España pero en el caso de haber identificado que hayas pasado algo femenino, ej: "la fiesta", entonces sí se usa "la". Saludos - 005faa61, Jul 12, 2013

Sí, es justo lo que había creído/escrito. Gracias Julian. - RafaelNoiret, Jul 12, 2013

De hecho no tengo ni idea a lo que se refiere el 'lo' cuando lo decimos ahí. 'El tiempo', quizás. - RafaelNoiret, Jul 12, 2013

Así es, Rafa. Peude ser "el tiempo/rato" o cualquier otra cosa no identificada pero en fin viene siendo el "lo" abstracto - 005faa61, Jul 12, 2013

En Chile: "Lo pasaste bien...?" - chileno, Jul 12, 2013

Answer 3

I think it is a judgement call in this case as to which to use. For a short visit, a month or less, I would use the preterite. For a longer visit I would use the imperfect. But that is just me and not necessarily correct according to the rules of grammar.

But I don't let the rules of grammar rule my Spanish. Almost all of us use incorrect grammar in English and most Spanish speakers use incorrect grammar in Spanish, so I don't worry too much about grammar but more about communicating the idea.

So bottom line, both will work. Also as suggested you could use ser or pasar. In this case I would use ser like you did.

I think of pasar like this. I went dancing last night. Oh, did you have a good time?

And ser like this. I'm glad you came to visit me. I hope you visit was pleasant.

Okay grammar geeks beat me up. lol

Beating you up would be a pretty long trip! I'll just say that I completely disagree. - RafaelNoiret, Jul 12, 2013

But it would be a good excuse to come to paradise. - gringojrf, Jul 12, 2013

You people are having too much fun.... :) - chileno, Jul 12, 2013

Answer 4

One idea from the Pimsleur course - "¿Cómo te fue tu viaje?"

This is "How was your trip?" instead of "Did you have a good time?", but a good alternative. - rodneyp, Jul 13, 2013

Answer 5

You people are having too much fun.... - chileno

Chileno this is just for you...

Too Much Fun