Por Favor ayudar con Preterite and imperfecto.....
Hello, I am writing about an event that happened in the past and I am confused on when to use the preterite and imperfect: The words I have bolded are the ones that I am unsure of, mostly because I am describing actions. If there are any words that are not bolded but you think they are incorrect please let me know. I'm really struggling with understanding how to use the imperfect and preterite.
También, mis amigos trajeron sus comidas favoritas. Todos disfrutaban de la comida y la hospitalidad. Algunas personas pescaban mientras los otros nadaban en el riachuelo. Mis amigos, mis primos, y yo fuimos a caminar a lo largo del riachuelo cuando de repente apareció una gran serpiente. Aterrorizado, corrimos volver adónde mi padre estaba preparando la comida. En lugar de caminando en una dirección diferente nos decidimos jugar a las cartas. Antes de anochecer, mi padre hizo un fuego. Todos se sentamos alrededor del fuego bebiendo cervezas, tostando malvaviscos, y contando historias
Also. my friends brought their favorite foods. everyone enjoyed the food and hospitality. Some people were fishing while others were swimming in the creek. My friends, cousins, and I went for a walk along the creek when suddenly a big snake appeared. Terrified, we ran back to where my father was preparing the food. Instead of walking we decided to play a game of cards. Before sunset, my father made a fire. Everyone sat around the fire drinking beers, toasting marshmallows and telling stories.
Muchas Gracias!!!!
2 Answers
1 and 2 Algunas personas (1) pescaban mientras los otros (2)nadaban en el riachuelo
Some people were fishing while others were swimming in the creek
This is correct usage of the imperfect 
According to the authors of Barrons 501 Spanish verbs (7th edn) Christopher and Theodore Kendris the imperfect is used, amoungst other things : to express:
An action that was going on in the past at the same time as another action:
The use of the word mientras =while, makes it clear that this is exactly what is happening
3.mis primos, y yo fuimos a caminar a lo largo del riachuelo
Correct
The preterite is used to express an action that was completed at some time in the past
4.mi padre estaba preparando la comida. I would say that this is correct but I am not 100% sure the action was not completed . However, because you were running towards the place where your father was preparing the food he could have been interrupted by your action of running towards him.
Mi profesora nativa de español (que es de España) me ha enviado recientemente un documento que refiere específicamente a este tiempo:
PRETÉRITO IMPERFECTO VERBO ESTAR + GERUNDIO In Spanish we use the “Pretérito imperfecto” of the verb "estar" + present participle, when we want to express that something happened in the past when it was performing an action and that action was not finished. Ex: María estaba leyendo cuando alguien llamó a la puerta. Estaba leyendo = unfinished action in the past when someone knocked on the door
5.Todos se sentamos alrededor del fuego bebiendo cervezas, tostando malvaviscos, y contando historias
Everyone sat around the fire drinking beers, toasting marshmallows and telling stories.
Yes, I think this is correct : The action of sitting down occurred just once even though the action of drinking and toasting marshmallows continued to happen for the period you were sitting.
I hope this helps
Hola, entiendo un poco el español y no sé que es lo que pides pero reescribiré partes del texto en donde creo que fallaste. Lo escribiré a mi manera, a como yo lo relataría. Espero que te ayude.
-Tú- Aterrorizado, corrimos volver adónde mi padre estaba preparando la comida. -Yo- Aterrorizados, corrimos para volver adónde mi padre estaba preparando la comida.
-You-En lugar de caminando en una dirección diferente nos decidimos jugar a las cartas. -Me- En lugar de seguir caminando en una dirección diferente nos decidimos jugar a las cartas.
Espero que te sirva
