Use of present tense when it would be past in English
Hey, I live in Mexico and I often hear Mexicans using the present tense when telling a story when I would use the past in English. In particular, I hear it used when they say that someone told them something, just wondering if this is a common occurrence.
For example...
Mi jefe me dice que tengo que ir a la junta hoy.
Fui a la junta y hablamos de muchas cosas. Nos dice que vamos a tener un kermes mañana.
I guess in English you could understand it as being the present continouos... he is telling us/me
Has anyone else noticed this?
1 Answer
This isn't exactly an answer to your question, but the same is often true in English. Many people relate stories of past events in the present tense.
She told me to go with her, so I did. We went to the pub and had a few drinks.
She tells me to come with her, so I do. We go the pub and have a few drinks.
Even though the event occurred in the past it can be made to seem more current by using the present tense. I'm guessing the same is true in Spanish.
