Past action inside a completed time frame

C. A.C1Kwiziq community member

Past action inside a completed time frame

For the sentence "mientras vosotros ________ el postre, yo hice el café", why is "estuvisteis comiendo" incorrect?  The lesson seems to suggest that it should be correct.

For example, the lesson says this:  When the ongoing past action is inside a completed timeframe in the past. See how all examples above contain a time phrase: "toda la noche", "de 6 a 7 de la tarde", "el sábado pasado".  In the quiz question, the completed timeframe is "while you were having dessert".  Isn't that a similar time frame to "toda la noche"?

Also, the lesson says this:  We don't know when the "eating" started, but the end is expressed with "hasta que acabamos con  toda la comida". This may sound as if that is an interrupting action and may lead you to wrongly think you need to use El Imperfecto Progresivo [estaba+present participle].  Likewise, in the quiz question, we know that "having dessert" has a beginning and an end, although we don't know exactly when.

Gracias!



Asked 1 year ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Chris

I can see how this could be taken both ways without offering a hint in the test-question. I just added it to indicate that this is expressing a "purely descriptive action" so that is a clear indicator to use the imperfect progressive. 

I hope it helps.

Saludos

C. A. asked:View original

Past action inside a completed time frame

For the sentence "mientras vosotros ________ el postre, yo hice el café", why is "estuvisteis comiendo" incorrect?  The lesson seems to suggest that it should be correct.

For example, the lesson says this:  When the ongoing past action is inside a completed timeframe in the past. See how all examples above contain a time phrase: "toda la noche", "de 6 a 7 de la tarde", "el sábado pasado".  In the quiz question, the completed timeframe is "while you were having dessert".  Isn't that a similar time frame to "toda la noche"?

Also, the lesson says this:  We don't know when the "eating" started, but the end is expressed with "hasta que acabamos con  toda la comida". This may sound as if that is an interrupting action and may lead you to wrongly think you need to use El Imperfecto Progresivo [estaba+present participle].  Likewise, in the quiz question, we know that "having dessert" has a beginning and an end, although we don't know exactly when.

Gracias!



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