Imperfect and Preterite Uses

Question

I am have trouble deciding wether to use preterite or imperfect.

1) Ellos cenaron en un restaurante muy elegante.

2) Los dos se sintieron muy contentos.

What are the English phrases? - codyandrews1993, Dec 10, 2016

1) They ate dinner at a very elegant restauraunt. - creative14, Dec 10, 2016

2) The two felt very content. - creative14, Dec 10, 2016

Answer 1

The first sentence I would put as the preterite, so you are correct. It depends, though, on whether or not they are still eating dinner or if they have eaten in elegant restaurants regularly in the past.

The second one could be imperfect or preterite. Preterite would mean that they felt content (but they might not be anymore). Imperfect would mean that they feel content on a regular basis or have felt content for quite some time.

Is there a way to post a picture on here? - creative14, Dec 10, 2016

If there is a link for it, I know how. There is a post picture button for when you type an answer and then you enter the link in the box that appears - codyandrews1993, Dec 10, 2016

Thank you! I was able to post a link and the picture - creative14, Dec 10, 2016

Answer 2

Hello creative14

Welcome to our Spanishdict learning community

Good question! This is a common area of difficulty for both beginners and intermediate learners alike!

The first example should be preterite if it refers to an action that had already been completed: ie:the people were no longer eating :

1.Ellos cenaron en un restaurante muy elegante. (Pretérito)

If the sentence was referring to an action that was still happening: ie, the people were eating in a very elegant restaurant you would need to use the imperfect indicative because this tense is used to describe an action that was happening (or used to happen)!

1 Ellos cenabamos en un restaurante muy elegante.

According to the authors of Barrons' 501 Spanish verbs (7th edn) Professors Christopher and Theodore Kendris, the imperfect indicative is used, among other situations for:

"A description of a mental, emotional or physical condition in the past" Eg: Estaba contento de verlo = I was happy to see him.

I hope this helps

Answer 3

https://s30.postimg.org/x4pd0yx35/Spanish_Homework.jpg

Answer 4

I think they would both be imperfect because time isn't specified in the sentences because we don't know when the events started or ended.