Spanish Translators Forum Partners: Translation News  Jobs for Translators  Spanish Translation  Spanish Translator  English Translation  
Make us your Homepage
Bookmark this page
Invite a friend
Email this Page Email this page
Link to us

Go Back   English Spanish Translator Org: Translation Forum – Translators Forums > Spanish Language > Spanish Language Topics
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Spanish Language Topics Use this forum to discuss any questions, concerns, and experiences you may have with general Spanish language issues.

Add To:  Delicious   Digg   Google   Technorati   Live   Furl   Netscape   Yahoo   More
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 12-06-2007, 05:41 AM   #1
nickdisipio
Forum User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 18nickdisipio will become famous soon enough
Default Fui/Era

Is there any trick or advice you could give me to understand how to seperate the difference.. between Fui/Era.. I understand that one is imperfect and the other is preterit but I still can't grasp the Idea..
nickdisipio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2007, 08:31 AM   #2
mvictoria
Senior Member
 
mvictoria's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 243
Rep Power: 136mvictoria is a name known to allmvictoria is a name known to allmvictoria is a name known to allmvictoria is a name known to all
Default

fui could be I was / I've been

era means "I used to be" or "It used to be" depending on the context / person

Also, for instance "where was it"? referring to a place means "dónde era?"

hope it helps
mvictoria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2007, 07:10 AM   #3
fernando el casir
Forum User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 64
Rep Power: 107fernando el casir is a splendid one to beholdfernando el casir is a splendid one to beholdfernando el casir is a splendid one to beholdfernando el casir is a splendid one to beholdfernando el casir is a splendid one to behold
Default fui/era

Quote:
Originally Posted by nickdisipio
Is there any trick or advice you could give me to understand how to seperate the difference.. between Fui/Era.. I understand that one is imperfect and the other is preterit but I still can't grasp the Idea..

The context is important. For example:
Yo era un niño cuando asesinaron a Kennedy. I was a boy when Kennedy was murdered.
Yo fui un tonto cuando vendí mi casa. I was a fool when I sold my house.

There are not interchangeable in those sentences. "Era" is an action that continued for certain time. "Fui" is something that only lasted a few moments. At least, that´s the way I use them.
fernando el casir is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2007, 05:38 PM   #4
nickdisipio
Forum User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 18nickdisipio will become famous soon enough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando el casir
The context is important. For example:
Yo era un niño cuando asesinaron a Kennedy. I was a boy when Kennedy was murdered.
Yo fui un tonto cuando vendí mi casa. I was a fool when I sold my house.

There are not interchangeable in those sentences. "Era" is an action that continued for certain time. "Fui" is something that only lasted a few moments. At least, that´s the way I use them.

Thank you so much.. that REALLY helps me, I new it was a continued action but I didnt quite understand what that meant but your explanation helped me alot.. thank you!
nickdisipio is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:49 AM.


Copyright 2006 - English Spanish Translator