¿Pretérito o imperfecto?
"I used to go skating."
Imperfecto - repeated past action; not sure of the beginning or end
I was/I went
Fui
I would dance.
(Yo) bailaba.
It was hot. (already happening; not limited by time)
Hacía calor.
You have a scene where something was happening, and then something interrupted it. The interruption would be in the _____.
preterite
"I skated last night."
Pretérito - Limited by time; completed action
I went to the mall yesterday.
Fui al centro comercial ayer.
She used to write poems (poemas).
(Ella) escribía poemas.
There was an accident (un accidente).
Hubo un accidente.
¿Qué quiere decir "un baile de gala" en inglés?
ballroom dance; formal dance
"They would go camping in the summer."
Imperfecto - Repeated past action; not sure which summer nor how many summers; not sure of beginning or end
We refused to work.
No quisimos trabajar.
They used to sing and to play guitar.
Cantaban y tocaban la guitarra.
She met him in San Juan.
Lo conoció en San Juan.
¿Qué país fue el centro principal de la manufactura de abanicos (fans)?
Francia
"We camped at Yellowstone last summer."
Pretérito - completed action; limited by time; specific time indicated
They threw a party. *"threw" = "gave"
Dieron una fiesta.
You (informal) used to live in Pamplona.
Vivías en Pamplona.
He was tall and athletic. (somewhere in the past)
Era alto y atlético.
Name four places where the Spanish woman made use of the fan.
-the street (la calle)
-the home (la casa)
-the church (la iglesia)
-the theater (el teatro)
-ballroom dance (el baile de gala)
"She was tall and elegant." (She is dead.)
Depends:
Pretérito - you did not know her; you want to show finality of her death
Imperfecto - she was close to you; you are keeping her memory alive; it is not limited by time
Supisteis la verdad.
We were students.
Éramos alumnos/estudiantes.
It was hot when we arrived.
Hacía calor cuando llegamos.
Name two historical Native American women from the U.S. who served a similar purpose to that of "La Malinche."
Pocahontas; Sacagawea