English speaking people are bewildered by the apparent richness of choices afforded by Spanish to describe situations in the past, through the use of past Preterite or Imperfect. However the reverse is true with the present, where English is richer. In both cases the problem is the handling of 'progressive' states or actions.
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Question #10 - Gloss.?
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Improper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions refered to a well defined interval in time.
Proper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions refered to a well defined interval in time.
When the 'states of affairs' refers only to a well defined window in time, the Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Improper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions initiated in 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions initiated in 'past window'.
When the 'state of affairs' initiates within the reference window, the Preterite is used. English tends to use a different verb altogether. Better than thinking that there is a 'change of meaning', think of English 'did get to ...'; i.e.: sabía and supe compared to knew and did get to know (learned).
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Plausible use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Plausible use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Plausible use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Plausible use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Plausible use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Plausible use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions treated as events in the past.
Sometimes the Preterite is used instead of the Imperfect for 'habitual actions' or 'states of affairs' referenced to the 'past window' because the speaker sees them as an 'event' or a 'sequence of repeated events'.
Plausible use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions treated as events in the past.
Sometimes the Preterite is used instead of the Imperfect for 'habitual actions' or 'states of affairs' referenced to the 'past window' because the speaker sees them as an 'event' or a 'sequence of repeated events'.
Plausible use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Plausible use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions treated as events in the past.
Sometimes the Preterite is used instead of the Imperfect for 'habitual actions' or 'states of affairs' referenced to the 'past window' because the speaker sees them as an 'event' or a 'sequence of repeated events'.
Plausible use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Plausible use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Plausible use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions treated as events in the past.
Sometimes the Preterite is used instead of the Imperfect for 'habitual actions' or 'states of affairs' referenced to the 'past window' because the speaker sees them as an 'event' or a 'sequence of repeated events'.
Proper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions refered to a well defined interval in time.
When the 'states of affairs' refers only to a well defined window in time, the Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions refered to a well defined interval in time.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Proper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
Improper use of verb for habitual actions in the past.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
Proper use of verb for event or sequence of events in the past.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
Improper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
Proper use of verb for normal state of affairs referenced to 'past window'.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
Proper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions initiated in 'past window'.
When the 'state of affairs' initiates within the reference window, the Preterite is used. English tends to use a different verb altogether. Better than thinking that there is a 'change of meaning', think of English 'did get to ...'; i.e.: sabía and supe compared to knew and did get to know (learned).
Improper use of verb for state of affairs or habitual actions initiated in 'past window'.
English speaking people are bewildered by the apparent richness of choices afforded by Spanish to describe situations in the past, through the use of past Preterite or Imperfect. However the reverse is true with the present, where English is richer. In both cases the problem is the handling of 'progressive' states or actions.
The items covered are:
Past window is the window the speaker opens in the past to reference or decribe the action or situation; it may consist of one or several windows of definite or indefinite duration. State of affairs has an 'existential' connotation (as given by to be, or to have) or an 'inner state of mind' connotation (as given by to know, to feel, to fear). Event is a happening at a distinct juncture in time.
These are non habitual, finished events, though capable of cyclic repetitions. The Preterite is used.
These are 'habitual' actions that in English could be prefaced by 'used to...', 'would...'(not conditional!), or 'normally,...'. The Imperfect is used.
The Imperfect is used when describing a 'normal state of affairs' valid in the 'past window' (even if it is still valid at the present time)
When the 'state of affairs' initiates within the reference window, the Preterite is used. English tends to use a different verb altogether. Better than thinking that there is a 'change of meaning', think of English 'did get to ...'; i.e.: sabía and supe compared to knew and did get to know (learned).
Sometimes the Preterite is used instead of the Imperfect for 'habitual actions' or 'states of affairs' referenced to the 'past window' because the speaker sees them as an 'event' or a 'sequence of repeated events'.
When the 'states of affairs' refers only to a well defined window in time, the Preterite is used.
Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.
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