Why the imperfect is used and not the preterit in:"puesto que era mi cumpleaños "

Question

Hello, RE: Kwizbot           puesto que era mi cumpleaños 
You                         puesto que fue mi
cumpleañosI was wondering why the imperfect was used here and not the preterit since the birthday was yesterday, which is a definite period in time and is now complete.   Thank you. Nicoel

Answer

Hola NicoleEven though by the text you know her birthday was yesterday, you can still use the imperfect instead of the preterite. If you say "puesto que era mi cumpleaños", you are seeing your birthday as something that "was happening" (yesterday), as an ongoing action without seeing the "end" of it, without seeing it "completed". As a contrast sentence, if you say "Ayer fue mi cumpleaños" you refer to a finished action with an beginning and an end. Here is a lesson that will help you see this difference:https://spanish.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/using-el-imperfecto-vs-el-indefinido-general-useUn saludoInma

Answer

Hola Inma,Thank you for your quick reply.  I am still having a bit of a problem with this one despite reviewing the lesson you suggested.  I usually have a pretty good handle on these two tenses, but am having a problem with this situation:  I don't see how the "birthday" had no beginning or end, because the day is over.  Or is it that a "birthday" is an ongoing thing, that recurs every year?I guess it would be easier if it were a "birthday party", then you would definitely use the preterit as the party had a beginning and an end. Is there another way of explaining it?  Sorry to be harping on this.  I appreciate your patience.Nicole

Answer

Hola Inma,I realized that I never got a reply to my second question.  Could you please have a look? Thank you.Nicole

Answer

Hola,I don't know if a reply occurred in some other area, but I was wondering if you could give a bit more infoto help me understand this.  I still have trouble with this particular example.My earlier question a follow to your reply for : "Why the imperfect is used and not the preterit in:"puesto que era mi cumpleaños "