express continous past

Question

Hey everyone,

My question is- is there any difference between saying:

• pensaba en ti

• estaba pensando en ti

I have used the verb Pensar but that's just for the example.

Thanks.

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, May 15, 2017

Welcome in the midst of " desert storm 3. - ray76, May 15, 2017

Answer 1

I agree with DonBigote, ie:

Pensaba en ti durante todo el verano aunque no me llamaste ni una sola vez.

Estaba pensando en ti cuando de repente me dieron las ganas de mandarte esta tarjeta postal.

Julián, how do the Spanish translate the bit : Me dieron las ganas, please? Would it be translated as: the idea came to me ... to send you a postcard? - FELIZ77, May 15, 2017

Literally speaking me dieron las ganas =' they gave me the desire (idea) doesn't make a lot of sense here as we don't even know who the 'they' are in this context. - FELIZ77, May 15, 2017

My translation from the Spanish in my first comment is only a guess ....I could easily be wrong! - FELIZ77, May 15, 2017

Translation of this expression doesn´t make any sense, but it means that "I had the great desire ........." - 005faa61, May 16, 2017

Feliz: Also, "no me da la gana". This one is widely used. It's informal and usually accompanied by challenging voice tone / gesture - Raff75, May 16, 2017

Feliz: The two phrases I can come up with are: 1- "Me dieron ganas" ("las"almost not used anymore here) is "have the urge", "want", "feel like", depending on the context. Your translation is correct (one of the meanings - Raff75, May 16, 2017

Feliz: You are doing an excellent work! Something interesting: The same expression can have different meanings, nuances, or even distinct purposes when used in different contexts, when an article is added or when accompanied by various moods. - Raff75, May 16, 2017

Raff, I guess that "here" means where you live in CA. To say "ganas" with the article is not so unused in Mexico. I can´t explain grammatically, but with the article we have a little more emphasis, something that is so minute that we don´t even think ... - 005faa61, May 16, 2017

... about it when we do this. I guess it´s one of those utterances that "just happens naturally" - 005faa61, May 16, 2017

Answer 2

I think the past progressive is more "immediate than the imperfect. Ah, I mean that it was happening at the same time as another action. the imperfect, on the other hand, is something that went on for a longer time.

"Pensaba que los EEUU se formó el 04.04.07.1776 hasta que se me explicó que no: se formó en el 1789 con la ratificación de la Constitución." It could be interpreted as "I always thought that the US was formed on 07/04/1776 until it was explained to me otherwise: it was formed in 1789 with the ratification of the Constitution."

"Estaba pensando...." just doesn't sound right.

As an aside, I use the singular form of "formar" because it refers to one country (Los EEUU).

"Los EEUU es un país" instead of "Los EEUU son un país."

Answer 3

Hi 89yakir!

I do not think immediacy is the key to find the difference between imperfect and progressive, but cases. In daily use sometimes they are interchangeable. They both fulfill the same need with slightly different approaches, but as DonBigote said, sometimes one or the other does not sound right. Why?

Generally speaking, the imperfect should be used to express habits or merely and action extended in time with indefinite limits, otherwise, the progressive is used for particular events or situations.

The real difference between "yo pensaba en ti" and "yo estaba pensando en ti" could be determined in sentences, case by case. I am sure you will be able to find more exhaustive information on this matter.

Some other examples and comments to illustrate the use of progressive, imperfect and preterite. I hope it helps.

The past progressive is used when the action is directly related to another one in the past:

Examples:

1) Mientras estabas corriendo, el conejo estaba saltando. (While you were jogging, the rabbit was jumping).

Both actions going on at the same time in the past [progressive + progressive]

2) Tú estabas corriendo mientras el conejo saltaba. (While you were jogging, the rabbit got jumping).

Both actions also going on at the same time in the past [progressive + imperfect]

3) Tú estabas corriendo cuando el conejo saltó. (When you were jogging, the rabbit jumped).

The first action going on at a certain time in the past. That time is when the rabbit jumped [progressive + preterite]

So, we have three tenses here, progressive (an action clearly, unequivocally and explicitly going on), imperfect (an action also going but with inexact limits -something characteristic of many Romance languages) and preterite (the ideal past which is rigorous and exact, with any progression or extension in time).

Thanks so much! I find it somewhat complicated but I think your explanation helps. Please check the second paragraph. I think it should read: Generally speaking, the I M P E R F E C T should be used... - Sassette, May 17, 2017

Thanks, yes, it should read "the imperfect..." I appreciate it. - Raff75, May 17, 2017

Answer 4

The question of "imperfect" vs. "past progressive" has been well discussed. I find Julián's answer in agreement with the way I use those tenses.

However the "ganas" issue needs further development.

The basic idiom is "tener ganas de" +plus infinitive which is used in college texts to express the English idiom "feel like" Tengo ganas de ir al cine. would be translated as "I feel like going to the movies."

It can also be use in the following way and many others I suppose: Haré lo que me dé la gana. I'll do what I feel like.

Once, in college, I asked a Puerto Rican friend of mine what "whatchamacallit" means in Spanish. And She, who knew more English than I replied without even blinking an eye: "lo que te dé la gana llamarlo."

Note the difference between "me da /dé/,etc. la gana" and the plural "me da/dio/etc.( no las) ganas. This expression has many, many variations.

:) - ian-hill, May 16, 2017