When to change from preterit to present tense.

Question

I want to say "I went to Spain, it was fantastic." I'm using the preterit for "Fui a España" But do I say "fue Fantástico" or do i use the present tense, because it's still fantastic or am I referring to the past still and what I thought at that time. Then should I use the imperfect tense? I think I might be overthinking this! Also if I say "you would love it" Do I use "lo" for "it" and say "Lo te encantaría" so I am assuming that Spain is masculine? Maglet

Accept annierats' answer. - Jubilado, Jan 21, 2016

Very kind, Jubilado. - annierats, Jan 21, 2016

Answer 1

I am learning both Spanish and English at the same time and a lot of times I feel I am overthinking about what tenses to use. To think simply may be the way to go. That is, if you want to tell story or your part experience, just use simple past tense. Of course, Spain is still fantastic to you now. But you are telling your past experience, not what you think now.

I feel you cannot overthink. I used to think simplicity is all. Before I met the subjunctive etc. - annierats, Jan 21, 2016

Answer 2

I think this is best re-structured:

Fui a España, es un país de encanto. Creo que te gustaría.

By this simple means all the problems can be avoided. If you think about it, your English sentence is not clear as to whether it was the country or the journey that was fantastic.

You say La España, la España de Franco,por ejemplo.

Answer 3

maglet: Exactly like in English.

I went to Spain. It was fantastic. We ate all kinds of foods etc... :>

I went to Spain. It is fantastic. You can eat all kinds of foods etc

Right?

Edit:

Annie, what I was trying to do was for her to think well what she wants to say in English first, concept and all and then write it in Spanish. Still, she will have doubts and resource to asking people if it is correct etc.

That's why I maintain, that if she were to translate from Spanish to English it would be better and more advisable, since she would know immediately if her resultant English version is correct or not. That's the beginning.

Chileno, the Englsishis not clear, she wants to say that Spain was/is fantastic, not that the experienceof travelling was fantastic. I think.. who knows? - annierats, Jan 21, 2016

English, I meant to write.. I cannot type the word English without getting at least one extra s in. - annierats, Jan 21, 2016

Annie, please read my edit. - chileno, Jan 22, 2016

Ok, Chileno, you are thinking the other way round, I guess that works too. - annierats, Jan 22, 2016

I am thinking for you guys... :) I had to do the same thing but the other way around, since my native language is Spanish. - chileno, Jan 22, 2016

Answer 4

In analyzing this, What you're saying is, "I went to Spain. "Fui a España, (the experience) Fue fantástico." "Te encantaría."

Una playa en Dénia, España.

A ti te conozco mucho. Sé que sabes la idioma bien. - Jubilado, Jan 21, 2016

Muchas gracias - maglet, Jan 21, 2016

Answer 5

It would be 'Fui a España, fué fantastico! Creo que te encantaría? No need to use lo for it in this case.

¿Y quién es? No sabemos nada de su capacidades en español. - Jubilado, Jan 21, 2016

yes, I agree. This works well. - annierats, Jan 21, 2016

Paulalesons, there is a place on your profile page to select your levels of proficiency in English and Spanish. These let us know how to communicate with you and what level of expertise you have. - AnnRon, Jan 21, 2016

Paulalessons, not Paulalesons. Typo. Lo siento. - AnnRon, Jan 21, 2016