Thread: I need help translating this in imperfect/preterite form

Hello! im quite new to these forums and I need help translating this phrase into spanish(I need it in preterite or imperfect form only):

After all the smurfs introduced themselves, Snow White was exhausted. She went back to her castle to rest.

Thanks, in advance!

Feroxhem

HI ferox, welcome to the forum

Después de que todos los pitufos se presentaran (se hubieran presentado) , Blancanieves estaba agotada. Se fue al castillo para descansar (a su castillo).

Originally Posted by Feroxhem

Hello! im quite new to these forums and I need help translating this phrase into spanish(I need it in preterite or imperfect form only):

After all the smurfs introduced themselves, Snow White was exhausted. She went back to her castle to rest.

Thanks, in advance!

Feroxhem

This is clearly a sentence in the English past tense. So it can only be translated to the equivalent past tense in Spanish.


Después de que todos los pitufos se presentaron, Blancanieves estaba exhausta asi que se fue a su castillo para descansar.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan

This is clearly a sentence in the English past tense. So it can only be translated to the equivalent past tense in Spanish.

Hi Cali, this is not entirely true. the fact that in English it is past simple, doesn't mean it has to be past simple in Spanish.

this sentence in Spanish (from Spain) would sound odd in the past tense, even though it is correct. We use the subjunctive here.

However, a sentence like:

I spoke to your mum five minutes ago.

would be:

He hablado con tu madre hace un rato.

Nothing is black and white in languages.

Apart from the regional issue. In Galicia, in the north of Spain, the past simple is used almost for EVERYTHING. Sometimes it seems they don't even so much as know the present perfect

Here in Madrid, it is the other way round: present perfect it is almost all the time. In American countries, I believe, it is the past simple which is predominant.

Exx,

I agree with Californiaman's version. Regarding style, the tenses you used are kind of odd. Have a look again!

Forgot to say I'll have a look too.

Originally Posted by exxcéntrica

Hi Cali, this is not entirely true. the fact that in English it is past simple, doesn't mean it has to be past simple in Spanish.

this sentence in Spanish (from Spain) would sound odd in the past tense, even though it is correct. We use the subjunctive here.

However, a sentence like:

I spoke to your mum five minutes ago.

would be:

He hablado con tu madre hace un rato.

Nothing is black and white in languages.

Apart from the regional issue. In Galicia, in the north of Spain, the past simple is used almost for EVERYTHING. Sometimes it seems they don't even so much as know the present perfect

Here in Madrid, it is the other way round: present perfect it is almost all the time. In American countries, I believe, it is the past simple which is predominant.

I agree. Nothing is black and white in languages (and in many other endeavors as well).

However, I would translate... (Just my opinion)

I spoke to your mum five minutes ago. ( I would probably say "mom" instead of "mum" but that is another story).

as

"Hable con tu mama hace 5 minutos."


You seem to know your tenses in Spanish. I do not want to put you on the spot but perhaps (if/when you have a moment) you can explain the difference in meaning between "He hablado con ..." (present perfect?) vs. "Hable con ..." (simple past?).