Some help with corrections please!

Question

Hi, I'm having trouble with my Spanish homework. I'm struggling with the preterite/imperfect tense, and was wondering if anyone could correct my errors please...

This is what I have written so far: Saqué esta foto cuando fui a un festival con mi familia. Aunque [fue/era] un festival pequeño [había/hubo] mucha basura y por eso algunos voluntarios [tenían/tuvieron] que limpiar el suelo por recogiendo el plástico. This is what I would like it to say: I took this photo when I went to a festival with my family. Although it was a small festival, there was lots of rubbish and therefore some volunteers had to clean the floor by collecting the plastic.

I would really appreciate any help - thank you!

If you would like to use the forum in the future (and I hope you do because your written English is wonderful) please complete your profile with English and Spanish levels and any other information you wish to share. - Jubilado, Jan 7, 2015

Answer 1

I will answer mainly to incite other opinions> I think in some cases you could choose either:

Saqué esta foto cuando fui a un festival con mi familia. Aunque [fue/era] un festival pequeño [había/hubo] mucha basura y por eso algunos voluntarios [tenían/tuvieron] que limpiar el suelo por recogiendo el plástico

The thing you definitely did wrong is "por recogiendo" you cannot follow a preposition with a gerundio. There may be an exception, but it is a good general rule to follow:

por recoger- because of recovering

recogiendo- by (means of) recovering (no por)

This is my choice:

Saqué esta foto cuando fui a un festival con mi familia. Aunque era un festival pequeño había mucha basura y por eso algunos voluntarios tuvieron que limpiar el suelo recogiendo el plástico.

But I don't think it would be wrong to use preterite throughout.

I am a learner, and would recommend waiting for other opinions.

Sounds good - 005faa61, Jan 7, 2015

Thanks, Julian. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 7, 2015

Thank you so much for your help! - lelbel, Jan 7, 2015

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 7, 2015

¡Impresionante! - Daniela2041, Jan 8, 2015

Gracias, Daniela. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 8, 2015