uses of preterite

Question

Hi everyone

I have a question about the preterite tense. I saw there are a few verbs that are Preterite by Nature. Can it be understood as these verbs are always Preterite or depends on the context ? It does make sense with a few verbs like *NACER (to be born)** just like in English but the others like decidcir (to decide) or descubrir (to discover)... why is has to be in Preterite by nature? What if I want to say I will decide it later ? or I will decide it tomorrow ? then it won't be in Preterite form right ?

What a silly question but I am confused because why they gave a list of verbs that are Preterite by Nature as if this is an exception. Maybe I won't get suspicious if they don't say anything

I want to give an answer but I don't get well the point. Can you elaborate more? - Oshnaj, Aug 9, 2016

Hi Oshnaj, thanks for your enthusiasm, my point here is in the first use of Preterite tense (http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100046/preterite-simple-past#.V6lYnGVTNuY) They listed a few verbs that that are Preterite by Nature, and it made me confused - danghuynh, Aug 9, 2016

I am confused because why they have to list them as Verbs that are Preterite by Nature as if these verbs are always in Preterrite, so I just wanna make sure it is not - danghuynh, Aug 9, 2016

I really don't understand what kind of technicality is "preterite by nature", that doesn't make any sense to me at all. Those examples there are infinitives. - Oshnaj, Aug 9, 2016

Answer 1

I think that the term "preterite by nature" doesn't suggest that the verb can't be used in any other tense, but only that when using it in the past tense, it will be preterite and not imperfect. These are verbs whose meaning make it impossible or highly unlikely that the action would occur over a long or undetermined period of time. When you arrive somewhere, for example, you don't arrive indefinitely; you arrive and once you have arrived you don't arrive any more on that occasion at that location. You probably won't need to know the imperfect conjugation of "llegar," but feel free to use it in the present tense of the future tense all you like.

I guess so, just wondering why they pointed it out so it made me confused. Gracias amigo - danghuynh, Aug 9, 2016

Having reflected on Daniela's post, I retract the part of my post that says that you probably won't need to know the imperfect conjugations of these verbs. Her examples make it clear that when the imperfect is used to "set the scene," the imperfec - AnnRon, Aug 9, 2016

...imperfect tense of these "preterite by nature" verbs may be called for. - AnnRon, Aug 9, 2016

Answer 2

Preterit by nature. I don't think so. Nacer is used a lot in the preterite, but I can say that a certain amount of babies "nacen" todos los día." Muchos más nacerán en el futuro. Mientras "Hector' nacía hubo un gran sismo. --When Hector was being born there was a great earthquake.

Even verbs like "llegar" can be used in the imperfect. Los chicos llegaban de la escuela cuando descubieron que la puerta de su casa estaba abierta. The kids were arriving from school (they weren't quite home yet) when they discovered that the door of their house was open.

I would like to see that list of verbs that are preterit by nature.

Hi Daniela, here http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100046/preterite-simple-past#.V6lYnGVTNuY, the first uses - danghuynh, Aug 9, 2016

I mean it does make sense if they say these verbs are usually in preterite right, like the verb Nacer, even in English, I usually used it in Simple Past but the others I am not sure, present and future mostly to use - danghuynh, Aug 9, 2016

Daniela, there are lists of "preterite by nature" verbs on a number of Spanish language websites. Just Google. Also, please see my comment above. - AnnRon, Aug 9, 2016