Misconceptions
So in this post Lazarus says that certain phrases like "a menudo" are taught to be only used in the imperfect though natives can use them in the preterit.
I learned these phrases as only usable with the imperfect tense. Can someone give an example of the phrase "a menudo" used with the preterit?
1 Answer
Hello,
I think that what Lazarus is trying to say in that post is that natives can use that phrases in the preterite because they master the language and they have confidence in specifics contexts where only preterit can be used or where both are valid. For example:
A menudo, quise decirle lo que sentía por ella.
If we visit rae.es and search for a menudo ( here ) we will find that often is not the only definition:
Muchas veces (several times) would fit perfectly in my example above.
I hope this helps.
[Feel free to correct my English. Thank you] [Reinstate gringojrf]
