"Fue bien"

Question

Since the imperfect tense is used to describe how things were in the past, and the preterite how things happened, does the phrase "fue bien/Bueno" ever come up. I used to say this but then when I started to learn the imperfect I realised it would have made more sense to say "era bien" right? Could someone let me know wether fue bien is ever actually used because thinking about it, it doesn't seem to make sense

Answer 1

Just a little more to contribute to the clarification of Winkfish on what "fue bien" means, because I think this is important to understanding the proper grammar.

I have to admit in combination with “bien” I usually think of “fue” as a form of “ir” and if I am using “ser” mentally I think to use “bueno/o/os/as” with it. As opposed to “estar” which associates well with both the adjective and the adverb.

I don’t normally see “es bien” (by itself, not modifying an adjective that follow) - so “fue bien” would also seem odd as a derivative of ser. It makes perfect sense as a derivative of ir. So I would interpret the sentence "La cena fue muy bien" as the dinner went very well. To write the dinner was very good: "La cena fue muy buena". Although I might choose estuvo over fue in that sentence depending on the impression I was trying to give.

A nice interpretation of possibilites

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/el-viaje-fue-bueno-bien.1331946/

Milton SandModómano, 'mano — SE y Esp-Ing Bucaramanga, Colombia

Hi, Maybe this helps:

El viaje fue bueno <—(...was good, beneficial)— This "fue" is the conjugation of "ser", which can join the subject with a feature/quality (adjective).

El viaje fue bien <—(...went well, with no vehicle problems)— It seems this "fue" is a form of "ir". "Bien" tells us how things were as travel advanced.

El viaje estuvo bien <—(...was fine, not bad)— "Estar" can join the subject with a circumstance/state like the one meant by the adverb "bien".

El viaje estuvo bueno <—(...was enjoyable, I had a good time)— This "estar", instead of "ser", expresses your personal opinion.

Threads on use of es with bien:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/174873/es-muy-bueno-est-muy-bien

"Es bien" is not correct, but it is used as slang in some places, to mean something a bit like "he's all right", "she's cool".

http://mariaortegagarcia.com/spanish-blog/bien-or-bueno-muy-or-mucho-erase-any-doubt/

Oh, and remember we never use “bien” with “ser” . So, “es bien“ is wrong, you either say “Esto está bien“, which means that ‘this is right, correct or good’, or “Esto es bueno”, meaning ‘This is good, beneficial’ depending on what you actually want to express.

Hi, Bosque. My answer came from the Pimsleur course. They used variations of "cómo fue" as a derivative of "ir." "Cómo fue?" was translated as "How did it go?' The answer was "Fue bien" translated as "It went well." A variation was "Cómo le fue?" for - Winkfish, Feb 16, 2017

"How did it go for you?" to which the response was "Me fue bien" translated as "It went well for me." In those instances, they were discussing a meeting with a client. They also spoke about a party the night before, saying "Cómo fue la fiesta?" or "How - Winkfish, Feb 16, 2017

was the party?" to which the response was "Fue muy divertida" or "It was very fun." So Pimsleur used it both ways. I understand the correct grammar issue. I hear it all the time . "How are you?" to which some respond "I'm good" when they should - Winkfish, Feb 16, 2017

say "I'm well." I just wanted the poster to understand the "ir" version of "fue" as well. Thanks! - Winkfish, Feb 16, 2017

Sorry for the long comment. - Winkfish, Feb 16, 2017

My comment was to agree with you, but to add that was the only way of interpreting. Your interpretation is not only correct, but the only correct way. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 16, 2017

A fussy point of grammar: In the sentence "I am well," "well" functions as an adjective. There's nothing grammatically incorrect about "I am good," though it's a bit of a non sequitur when used as a response to "How are you?" I think people think of it - - AnnRon, Feb 16, 2017

-as shorthand for "I feel good," which is also grammatically correct. - AnnRon, Feb 16, 2017

I always think of I am well as short for I am (doing) well. But your point is taken. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 16, 2017

Or is it I am being well? existing well? - bosquederoble, Feb 16, 2017

But I have two sources that are well respected saying you don't use ser with bien, and that is the main point I am trying to make, I could easily find others to say the same. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 16, 2017

Sorry, Bosque. I wasn't sure what you were trying to say, but in that case, Thank you!!! ;-) - Winkfish, Feb 16, 2017

Answer 2

Sure- if it was something that happened at a point in time. La cena fue muy bien. You would not want to say era in this case.

Answer 3

Also, remember that "fue" is also the preterite of "ir." So "Cómo fue?" can mean "How did it go?" (Like, perhaps, an interview.) Response: "Fue bien." "It went well."

Answer 4

We use imperfect to "set a scene in the past" in our story. The action described in this tense is ongoing.For example:

El partido fue increible - just a finished action Ayer llovió - same here

They both happened in the past, so we can "see" their end.

look at this "time frame"

---------------|--EL PARTIDO-|-------------

Ayer llovía.- it's a description of a situation,we don't use it itself Ayer llovía. Corría en el parque. De repente, ví un gato etc.

I this case, the action of raining wasn't finished, we don't mention it's end. It's going on.

-------llovia-llovia-llovia-corria-corria-corria-|vi|---

Hope it helped!

Answer 5

Fue bien can be used assuming that the action is not ongoing. Era bien would imply that either the event if still ongoing or that it falls under one of the many uses of the imperfect. i.e. Weather, Time, Age, and more

Please give consideration to reading my answer where I note that you should not use ser with bien as a modifier to it, so "era bien" would not be correct, and "fue bien" would mean went well, not was well. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 16, 2017

Was well would use a form of estar bien. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 16, 2017