Repeated past action with an implied beginning and a clear ending: preterit or imperfect?

Question

Mi papá me llevó/llevaba al parque con frequencia hasta que me gradué de la escuela primaria.

There are tons of threads already existing on the usage of preterit vs imperfect. I read a few, but couldn´t find one for this specific scenario, so I hope you don´t mind me asking it here.

In the scenario where an action is repeated often in the past (such as going to the park as a kid), if such repeated action has a clear ending (end of elementary school), and an implied beginning (old enough to go to the park, even if it means in a stroller), should I use the preterit or imperfect tense?

My confusion point is: since the action happened frequently in the past, imperfect makes sense; however, the is a beginning and an ending to this type of action, so it seems preterit should be used.

I have asked a few native Spanish speakers, their verdicts were not consistent, either, so I hope to receive more input and explanation here.

Hola amiga! - rac1, Oct 15, 2013

Answer 1

Well once you put con frecuencia in there I would use the imperfect.

If however you said he took me fifty times, then I'd use the Preterite.

The clear ending has to do with school ending not with going to the park so gradué is good but that doesn't effect llevar.

Kiwi, I've just been on acourse, he, things arenot as described on the internet, not exactly, but you get my vote. I learnt a 1000 thing , at least. - annierats, Oct 15, 2013

I really like your answer. Yours combined with Gekkoson´s answers have helped me solve this puzzle. The 50 veces example is the key. Gracias. - JazSpanish, Oct 16, 2013

Glad it helped, Gekko probably taught me lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 16, 2013

Answer 2

Another use of the imperfect is the presentation of a timeframe in which another action starts and stops, which would be preterit. But this case is plainly repeated action even up to a point of termination, so I agree with the use of imperfect especially since you have said "con frecuencia".

However, you can also have slightly more nuance of repeated action, and without "con frecuencia" by saying: "Mi papá solía llevarme al parque .........................."

I like the use of soler. - gringojrf, Oct 15, 2013

Answer 3

Agree with Kiwi. Con frecuencia makes it a repeated action, even if there are fairly firm endpoints.

I used to play baseball in primary school.

Jugaba al beísbol cuando estaba en la primeria.

Yes, it could be made into preterite with the right context and if you were trying to somehow emphasize its done-ness (as opposed to Now I don´t play anymore), but I think in most contexts this one is going to be imperfect, even though I´m equally sure natives could come up with any number of exceptions if they wanted to.

I focused on this very topic most of Sept, so I could focus on subjunctive in Oct before resuming class in Nov. It´s tricky, and I think we have to accept there aren´t always going to be firm answers, just as your query of natives just told you.

Buena suerte.

Answer 4

Description in the past: imperfect.