Spanish Lesson. The 4 ways to say WAS. 3 LightSpeed Spanish

[@blackmamba4028]

Even after a number of years with the Spanish in the toolbag i ask someone 'como fue la fiesta' just last week and got a 'estuvo bien' back ovet the net. It got the cogs turning. Definitely got to go back to basics every now and then to oil the chain and after watching this it looks like the lass didn't wanted to comment on the quality of the suprise party her parents threw for her 😂😂😂. Good video 👍

[@mary-louiseboardman3482]

These videos are so natural, they offer a different and clear way to understand the difficult points in Spanish. They are also fun! Thank you.

[@sandrahito5668]

I'm a native spanish person from Spain and watching these kind of videos I realise how difficult is my language and how lucky I am for being a native speaker. I like a lot english, the words, accent, ryhme and melody and also I am so greatful for how easy the grammar is if I comparate it with spanish although the hard thing in english is the listening though. Great videos man!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Sandra González Hito Thanks a lot, Sandra:)

[@keithbrown9198]

+Sandra González Hito It's very interesting to hear (OK, read) you say that. I taught English to Spanish speakers here in the U.S. for a little while and I never got the impression that it was easy for them. As an American English speaker, Spanish is considered one of the easiest languages to learn. Yes, it takes a lot of practice and thinking a little differently about things (verb conjugation being the biggest by far), but as bluemrgenius says below, the rules are pretty clear and logical...there's just a lot of them! While there are irregularities in Spanish as we students all know, there are far, far more in English. I congratulate you on how well you are able to express yourself in English! Sólo espero que yo pueda hablar español tan bueno como tú puedes hablar inglés. (See... I have no idea if I said that right).

[@sandrahito5668]

Keith Brown Ohh, yes, you're right! Well I have a good english because I lived in London for six months last year and that helped me a lot to improve my grammar, pronunciation and spelling skills. I'm from Spain so my spanish is a bit different from the South America so I would say: 'Solo espero que yo pueda hablar español TAN BIEN como tú puedes hablar inglés.'

[@keithbrown9198]

+Sandra González Hito Ahhh, no you're right, even in Latin America. Like ser vs. estar, bien vs. bueno tricks a lot of us English speakers. I know Gordon has a video about that, I just haven't watched it yet, lol! My daughter-in-law just corrected me on this last night as well. ¡Qué lástima! Gracias a ti por tu consejo.

[@sandrahito5668]

Keith Brown​ You're welcome! Your spanish is quite good though! Keep it up!

[@heliotrope366]

Thanks for this. In my opinion the 'was' problem is definitely the most difficult issue in the whole of Spanish - much more than the subjunctive, or the idea of imperfect versus preterite on its own. It is the combined choice of ser/estar/preterite/imperfect that kills you. In English, to say 'was' is something so basic, so essential. It is used constantly, and there is only ever one option. In Spanish you have to decide between 'estuvo', 'estaba', 'fue' and 'era' (all with six possible persons, of course). And if there's a subjunctive in there, you may also have 'fuera' and 'estuviera' to consider. That's six possibilities, plus the persons. I'm an advanced speaker, but this still trips me up all the time in conversation - I understand the principle, but it is not automatic and when you're talking there's no time to think. I would welcome more videos focusing on ser and estar in imperfect and preterite, with examples. By the way, your videos are the best Spanish learning resource on the internet.

[@cindys2995]

Shoot - I totally forgot about "fuera" y "estuviera" - lol - THANKS!

[@storyteller4410]

as students we need a teacher who not only knows how to teach, but also knows how to console and tell us to keep going and never give up. i almost give up with my spanish until i find you. Thank you for being an awesome teacher! im following your great videos:) ¡Dios te bendiga!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

¡Muchas gracias!

[@markle100]

Unfortunately only just stumbled upon your great videos - they're really helpful. Please keep making them !

[@loveslanguage]

Thank you for the help, and also for the reassurance about the process of language learning. SO helpful. You're awesome, Gordon

[@bluemrgeniuss]

I'm learning Spanish, and I'm also fluent in Portuguese, and have to say that these Latin based languages are hard initially, but have a fairly logical, well structured and clear rules. whereas, English grammar is easier fundamentally, but has more obscurity the more you advance in it. different languages have different difficulties. Don't be discouraged by the apparent complexity of Spanish because it gets easier with practice. 😉

[@bigsmallshorttall]

Very good observation. Yes, I agree!

[@helenamcginty4920]

Easier if you live here and make even the tiniest effort to communicate in Spanish. Everyone will help you.

[@tinalilith]

Thank you so much, Gordon, for your encouraging words regarding how all this grammar will finally become automatic... I have just started learning different past tenses and have been feeling quite overwhelmed. This video cleared so much... muchas gracias!

[@jasonbradley9456]

These videos are great, i really appreciate them. The sharing of knowledge is a wonderful thing, especially when it's communicated and taught so well. It's really helping me with my supplementary Spanish module at university.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+Jason Bradley Thanks, Jason. A lovely comment:)

[@brendaolsen6664]

My brain never really did get round the 4 'was' Gordon and I have found myself just making random guesses, probably getting it right about 70% of the time but never really properly 'getting' it or understanding why I couldn't get it! Huge frustration! Forward wind 6 mths later when reading from page 72 in that fantastic new book of yours 'Perfecting the Past in Spanish' And you explain the system for getting this correct in a way that I do finally get it and I realise why it has been so difficult. Your simple WAS-WERE system is simply brilliant! And putting the sentence into the present tense first! Genius. I get it! I finally have a system that works! There is no other person/spanish teaching website which has been able to clarify this for me. Hahaha, I've just been thinking that I must be 'a bit thick!'. This book is BRILLIANT! Spent 3 years learning spanish and been lost when it comes to the 4 'was'! Did the exercises with your 2 step system and my head finally gets round it now!!D

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

That's great news, Brenda. I'm really happy that the book has helped. Yes, I think that once you have the system, it all becomes fairly easy. With no system, it's confusion and random choices all the way! I know because I have been there too.

[@markharriers4694]

@@LightSpeedSpanishChannel where can i purchase the book please?

[@anthonyscott3347]

You are an awesome teacher!!!! You have helped my Spanish so much; thank you!!!

[@Jalalmaher1983]

Your podcasts have helped me 10000 more than my Spanish professor who refuses to say a word in English !! I owe u soooo much ..I moved to Spain to live here and am learning the language now , and u just made it so much easier ! thaaank u

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Jalal Maher You are very welcome. Thanks for the nice message.

[@Jalalmaher1983]

Its least i can do.. I listen to u all the time in the metro... Plz make an episode about SE.. And the reflexivos.. They r so difficult

[@001Broadway]

OMG-finally! Thanks. So many people cannot explain this properly because Spanish is their native language so to them it comes naturally. They know exactly when and how to use it but when u hear their explanation it only confuses u further. Thank u.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

De nada, Broadway:)

[@carymorris5324]

Thank you! Your videos have helped clear up so many questions I've had. It makes it so much easier to learn a language when you know WHY you're saying what you're saying. Please keep posting! :)

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Thank you, I will!

[@laurenowen6855]

Videos are fantastic! I found this extremely helpful as I am often getting confused easily with the different ways of saying 'was'. Best videos yet I have found- easy to understand and clearly explained! Thanks

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Lauren Owen Muchísimas gracias. Qué amable.

[@Tony26971]

LightSpeed Spanish could you do a video on verbs with prepositions it really confuses me

[@Tony26971]

LightSpeed Spanish could you do a video on verbs with prepositions it really confuses me

[@niclasn2695]

Awesome videos, you're my best spanish teacher so far

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Thank you very much! :)

[@VoF926]

This video was phenomenal! Thank you very much. You explained everything so clearly and the examples really helped make it easy to understand.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

¡Estupendo!

[@Freesoul54]

muchas Gracias. I have studied spanish 1 year and your podcasts are grear help. thank you

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

soha saba Thank you :)

[@xAyumiAnimex]

This is something I struggled with alot.. your video made breaking it down seem so easy. Gracias por todo y voy a ver más de sus vídeos! :DD

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

¡Gracias! :)

[@skeetlores2672]

BTW--I have been using your videos (love them) to try to re-learn spanish I forgot 50 years ago. I will be visiting my cousins in Spain this fall. I have never met them--my grandfather came to USA in 1903.

[@jacquelinelowe1453]

This has helped me tremendously how to simply use ser and estar in the past. Gracias

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

We're glad to hear that!! :)

[@CraigV7]

Gordon, sir, you are a sensation!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+Craig Vincent Gracias:)

[@Philosopearl]

Hi. I have found ser and estar in the preterite and imperfect tenses UTTERLY impossible to comprehend for a LONG time. I had to listen to this lesson a few times (in between practicing sample sentences and googling madly to try to find other ways to explain the concept). This particular lesson has helped me enormously to advance my understanding. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@dongzter]

I really like this kind of lesson although I already know this but this type is very helpful. I'm looking forward from you making more videos like this and keep on doing up until the advance levels!

[@dfernand101]

outstanding .. this has started to clear some doubts about certain forms of Spanish language use, many thanks.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

I-m pleased, David. Gracias por el comentario. :)

[@amelkabe]

Estoy muy contenta porque ahora entiendo mucho mucho mas:) Tengo que decir, que las lecciones contigo Gordon cuando haces entrevistas - son muy buenas tambien. Es algo super ayudable cuando podemos escuchar los nativos, incluso estamos en otro pais;) Muchisimas Gracias!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Kinga Bujak Gracias a ti por tu comentario tan bonito. :)

[@greg9336]

Gordon does an excellent job at explaining why language acquisition or any real talent for that matter takes practice and dedication.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias, Greg :)

[@nyronblake7973]

Nice job teacher!

[@ChristiaanCorthier]

Love his approach.

[@BellePoetesss]

Tras 8 años! I just love this channel. Admittedly I went straight for the comments to see if I could see if my answers to the little test were correct, but I didn't find any. So I will try. Lol. 1. Él estuvo aqui está mañana. 2. Para todo su vida, él fue feliz. 🙈 I love all these older videos as well, you and Cynthia have been consistently providing fantastic content. And I LOVE your teaching style, entertaining and easily understandable in a very relatable way. Mil gracias!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

¡Muchas gracias, Belle! ¡Qué amable! :) 1. Correcto. 2. ÉL fue feliz durante toda su vida. (but 'fue' was perfect!) Cx

[@BellePoetesss]

@@LightSpeedSpanishChannel ❤ I understand and will remember these corrects. Gracias!

[@brendaolsen6664]

Thanks Gordon. I watched this video again this morning and I'm finally understanding it better. The choice of 'was' has been a constant confusion. My brain finally getting around it.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+Brenda Olsen Venga, Brenda....tú puedes hacerlo:)

[@joehegarty279]

Hola Gordon,gracias para el ayudar? any chance you'll be doing new podcasts explaining the imperfect and conditional for intermediate to advanced level?

[@sirdarklust]

Just want to let you know I am recommending your videos to friends who are studying Spanish. I don't need them since I grew up speaking it (mother from Barcelona). Now if there were something this good for Italian... Anyway, good work. Be well.

[@tinapodolski4271]

hey i love your Videos! Do you have a specific one on si clauses?? hubiera/habria and so on?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

¡De nada!

[@willtabacchi1408]

This is terrific. I am so glad to see the subject of the 4 'was' examined. Up until you took it on, the subject was almost totally ignored or at best was examined only 2 at a time which raised more questions than it answered.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Will Tabacchi Thanks, Will. The WAS' will be one the theme of one of my books in the near future. I think it's so important and tends to be the biggest issue in spoken and written Spanish with my students.

[@bluceree7312]

Your explanation is very clear, and I understood through the examples you gave. I actually went through that same "melody/music" phase when I was learning English, and something would just sound wrong and without knowing why, but I trusted my gut instinct. This skill is still developing in Spanish and it will take some time, but poco a poco. However I find it hard to keep track of these different terms/tenses: preterite, perfective, imperfective, conditional, subjunctive, imperative, progressive, etc. To me they don't mean anything per se, and I find it hard to keep up. Do I need to memorise these terms? I prefer the gut feeling than memorising things.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

I agree, the names are quite confusing. We have lots of free videocasts that explain these terms with practical examples. Be sure to check out the content here: lightspeedspanish.co.uk/spanish-lesson-table-contents/

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Thanks a lot, Sirdarklust. We really appreciate you vote of confidence. :)

[@PinkGoesWellWithGreen24]

Muchismas gracias! This is the video I needed. I finally started to understand Preterite and imperfect but the ways to say was I just couldn´t get, all the infomration I found on them only confused me more. You explained it in such a simple to understand way, gracias Gordon, Me encantan tus videos!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias:)

[@jlmcgrot]

I have also experienced that native speakers don't often know why things are they way they are in spanish. I've asked questions to my native spanish speaking friends on the difference between estuvo/estaba, and got "they're the same". After further questioning I was able to get "well, they're almost the same". They don't understand a lot of the verbiage used when learning a language, such as "point/dot in the past" vs "line in the past" because they've never had to think of it this way. The funny thing is that this part of the language comes so natural to them they they think the hardest thing about learning spanish is the word order, or placement of adjectives. Don't worry, I've assured them that putting the adjective after the noun is not the toughest part of Spanish. I do find that they're is a lot more gray area between estuvo and estaba. I'm sure I've used these somewhat incorrectly without being corrected, but if I happen to switch up the ser/estar counterparts, then it's like a clashing of pans and I get the correction I need. How do native spanish speakers refer to what we call the mood/command/subjunctive when we are trying to learn? Obviously, i mean spanish speakers that aren't teachers. I try to express it by just saying to them "the version of the verb that comes after ojala".

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Muy bien, Respondon. Creo que has ganado el premio de tener en tu comentario las palabras....¡CORRECTO! jejeje (vaya premio) Que conste que también se puede decir: Estaba aquí está mañana. Los dos son correctos pero significan cosas distintas. Es una diferencia sútil pero sí hay una diferencia. También se puede decir, Estuvo contento toda la vida.

[@davidkwyjibo]

That was quite helpful. Thanks Gordon.

[@guitarslim56]

I really like the sample questions, where you challenge the viewer.

[@RickFidelisReed]

Gracias.

[@DJDANNYO1]

Very good descriptions! Helpful :D

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias, Danny.

[@Dvidtv]

Thanks Gordon, I have watched this a few times now I am starting to get a hand on preterite and imperfect, and think your right it’s going to take time for it to become a natural process. Have you any more tips on how to practice this more or is it just a case of practice and repetition?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Reading novels is great as they are all in the past and you learn the tenses well that way.

[@kathrynhoke4830]

another fantastic video!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

De nada. :)

[@christiaan81music]

Why use this 'Planned' / 'not planned' qualification instead of deciding to use 'ser' or 'estar' by thinking wether it's about a intrinsic aspect or something temporary, like i have been thought in other Spanish teaching sources. ¡gracias por adelantado! . I really enjoy your lessons!!

[@catlady715]

Gracias. This was very helpful.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias, Katherine. Qué amable. :)

[@williamfuller8636]

now that I have your book on the subjunctive, wouldn't the more correct thing be, "la fiesta 'fuera' fantastica"? Or have I caught subjunctivitis too?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

william fuller jajaja. I think you may well have. You would only use 'fuera' if you preceded it with a trigger. If not, just use 'fue'.

[@dianaprice3660]

He was here this morning. Estuvo aquí esta mañana. He was happy all his life. Era feliz toda su vida.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Diana Price Qué bien, Diana. A mí me gusta, Fue feliz toda su vida simplemente porque la estamos midiendo. All his life as a whole. :)

[@scottgraham1143]

LightSpeed Sp

[@ryanletterman1434]

This is game changing. Thanks

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Me alegro:)

[@ricardomoulton9202]

en el pasado, ella fue profesora. Would this statement be correct since it stated a specific time "en el pasado?"

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Sí, en un pasado que se puede medir.

[@ricardomoulton9202]

@@LightSpeedSpanishChannel gracias Gordon!

[@teacherwriterco]

Yo estoy de acuerdo con el mensaje de Heliotrope. Sus videos son ganas y mejores de todos los videos del idioma español en el Internet. Yo tambien tengo problemas con pretérito y imperfecto de ser y estar. ¿Cuando estará su libro listo? Muchisimos gracias por todos videos.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+Suzanne Pitner Suzanne, gracias por el comentario. Primero tengo que terminar el libro sobre Por y para. Luego, los Was's. jeje. Tanto que hacer...tan poco tiempo.:)

[@bigsmallshorttall]

Thank you so much! This was so helpful. Do you happen to have a video on the various ways of saying "so" in Spanish? That's one thing I would like to get my head around. For example if I want to express a sentence like, "It has been a long time since I studied Spanish, so I need more practice", would I use por eso? Asi que? Así? Por tanto?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Muchas gracias. En esa frase sería ASÍ QUÉ. (Or por lo tanto, but así que is more common when speaking) Cx

[@sopherandfriends29]

awesome video Thanks Gordon

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias :)

[@deirdrehegarty45]

super lesson Gordon really helped

[@Blissfulmantra]

Esta lección fue bueno¡ love the way you teach! Thank you. Has cleared a lot of my nightmares :)

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias, Nivedita. :)

[@jeffreyd508]

Good vids! Maybe do one on Sentir vs. Sentirse one day? .

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Good one! :)

[@thegivingtreeyogabyvarshak7092]

Do u deliver online Spanish training? I would love to subscribe.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

All of our training is either through our website and by Skype. What exactly did you mean, Varsha?

[@ardenlee1211]

Great video Gordon...i love to watch your videos before I go on trips to Mexico...I find this subject almost impossible to apply even after many years of trying to speak Spanish. Maybe, as you said, it is just something you have to "know". I have watched your video many times but no matter how much I practice I really struggle...and even worse is that my Mexican friends do not correct me because they think it is impolite...

[@sets51]

Thank you for explaining this.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+Teresita Augustine De nada, Teresita:)

[@deanward5396]

you do great teaching! thanks so' muchas Gracias :)

[@antigua701]

Thanks!!! Very helpful

[@ibaneziano]

Thanks Gordon!

[@peterthomasjones3675]

so is it safe to think of it as if "imperfect" is like "infinite"?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

It's certainly timeless. Imagine that the Imperfect is like describing a photo of the past. It's all description. 'This was happening, that was happening, he was there, she was there.' It's non-action. That's why we can't measure it. :)

[@BozalliCopter]

muchas gracias hombre, eso es muy util para mi

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Genial :)

[@markharriers4694]

All your videos help me the one thing i would say about this technique is when you say "was it planned" i.e "i was eating" i would say it was planned thus to use ser? But this isn't the case as "estaba" is used can anyone point me in the right direction please?

[@markharriers4694]

Spanish friends tel me to use "estuvo" the party sentance?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

What was the sentence? Cx

[@punkyhippo]

muy util

[@martinmcdonnell1734]

Estuvó aqui esta mañana. Estaba todo feliz de su vida

[@clarencehammer5682]

Another great video. This one reminds me of another question I have about usage. Some years ago I heard a Spaniard on an audio CD referring to the birth of another person. He used the imperfect. He said that this person "nacía" instead of saying that he "nació". Can you explain this?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Can you give me the whole sentence? It could have been used as a historical event, for example. Usually we would use the preterite. If you can get the sentence and the context I could, then, help you further. Maybe it was a chain of events like: while he was being born... (something happened) Which would call for Imperfect.

[@clarencehammer5682]

OK. I found it. It is from the Año IX, Número 5 issue of Puerta del Sol audio magazine. The sentence is: "Hace cien años nacía el escritor argentino Jorge Luis Borges." I remember writing to the editor at that time Roger L. Utt. He really had no answer but indicated that it might be something only a native speaker would say intuitively which could probably not be explained to a non-native speaker.

[@kimchytingz]

Estuvo aqui por la mañana fue feliz toda su vida

[@skeetlores2672]

I was reading some examples of "fue" and I don't understand why sometimes it is "yo fue" and other times it is "yo fui". Can you explain why?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

It is always YO FUI. Fue is for he/she/it :)

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Ese es el plan, Dongzter. :) Gracias.

[@Campervanlifeforever]

I've been learning spanish for 8 weeks now for about 3 hours a day 7 days a week and this video has totally put me off -( so so so fustrated p's still love your videos thank you for sharing .

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+christopher andrews jajaja. Just keep going. Learning Spanish is 90% frustration/confusion and 10% clarity/bliss.

[@Campervanlifeforever]

+LightSpeed Spanish ha ha I have got over my sulk now and had a day off spanish and now back on it with a clear head .Thanks for the reply -)

[@0Xss0fr]

Thanks a lot for the tips! I've ended up teaching Spanish myself and I'm still struggling to simplify some of the textbook rules! :) Quick question about this sentence: "Cuando era niño, Pedro estudiaba todos los días por tres horas". As a native speaker, this is how I would say it (though "estudió todos los días..." wouldn't sound wrong either, simply less common to my hears...). How would you explain it to students so they don't get confused with the "how often/how many times?" rule? Because here, we can answer one of the questions. How often? He was doing it everyday. Students could argue as well that you can put it in a bubble of time: three hours per day. I would go with the good old "it's an habitual action in the past, from childhood, so it's imperfect". Is there any other way you would explain it in an easy way? All I could think of, is we don't know for how many days he's been studying, so it's imperfect.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

It's Cynthia here. I think I'd also say "estudiaba" simply because the use of Imperfect make the action sound much more ongoing. Of course we could say "estudió" since we mention every day as well. I think it boils down to how ongoing you want the action to sound. If you use Imperfect that's the main focus, that he studied every day. If you use Preterite it seems that there is no much focus on the length of studying and you want to say something else.

[@0Xss0fr]

Thanks for the answer Cynthia! So in this case it depends on what the speaker wants to convey.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

I think that in many cases that is true :)

[@0Xss0fr]

I think both are correct. For me using the imperfect sounds more like putting the emphasis on the fact the action "was happening/used to happen" (this is how it would sound to my ears). The preterit put the emphasis more on the fact the action happened and is finished: "when he was a kid, he used to study" vs "when he was a kid, he studied".

[@hatch2158]

0Xss0fr

[@brianlittleton4714]

Por favfor, I don't understand the pretorite" that you use and refer to

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Preterit is one of the Past tenses. In English it refers to: did, ate, came, saw... As opposed to: I was doing, I was eating or I used to eat... The Preterite is for short, specific actions in the past or a past you can measure in time or amount of times. Cynthia x.

[@Jalalmaher1983]

May I ask you a question Gordon Can u make an episode explaining the various uses of Se in Spanish, cuz this is the most difficult for me ever Thank u

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Jalal Maher Check out this podcast. www.lightspeedspanish.co.uk/20111019-free-spanish-lesson-online-12-the-uses-of-se/

[@henrytprojects]

Muy util. Thanks Dad

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Haha Muchas gracias :)

[@lynnchilds2418]

Gracias, ¡fue bueno!

[@jeffy4096]

I always come back to this video whenever I have doubts. Read this Spanish translation today on one of the episodes of Extras en Español and am still confused having gone back over your video: "Ha dicho que era fácil equivocarse" = He said that it was an easy msitake to make. 1. Any indication for how long? No 2. Was it intentional? No So it should be FUE, no?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

James Quinlan Hi James, the sentence would translate : He said it was easy to make mistakes. Because there is no real measurement then it should be IMPERFECT Think about the sentence in present ( a great way to check) It's easy....this will be SER because it's a description not a state. It simply is easy. Because of that, we would choose ERA. If the sentence was like you suggest it would be: Ha dicho que fue facil equivocarse (that particular time) It was easy to make (that) mistake. I hope that helps. Ask more questions if you need help, please.

[@AversaG1]

Excelente!

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

¡Gracias! ;)

[@isakmagnell2375]

what about hubo?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Good question. Perhaps I should do another vid on that.

[@jimt.4876]

thank you! great explanation :)

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias, James Ts.

[@thegivingtreeyogabyvarshak7092]

el estuvo aqui esta manana. el estaba feliz toda su vida. is that correct?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Fue feliz/contento toda su vida. We are measuring it. All of his life. Therefore we need the preterite. Estuvo aquí....correcto. Estaba aquí is also correct, as we have no measurement in the sentence. Well done!

[@liamgalaga5625]

El fue feliz toda su vida.

[@falconpehlwan1337]

very nice clip to learn spanish

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

falcon pehlwan Gracias:)

[@falconpehlwan1337]

ur w come ur doing a very good job mate

[@violinistajay]

Gracias por los videos sobre esta tema. Eran muy útiles. Mis respuestas a las preguntas de Gordon: Él estubo aquí esta mañana Él era feliz toda su vida

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

+Ajay Aditya Chandramouli Estuvo está bien. Yo diría, fue feliz/estuvo feliz. Toda su vida= measuring it.

[@violinistajay]

vale. gracias. supon que quería decir, "he was a happy man". en este caso, creo que debería ser, "era un hombre feliz", porque no podemos medir la cantidad del tiempo. es correcto?

[@TheShwatta]

The whole "is it a plan?" question almost seems too easy. Does it work with estado vs sido and estaré vs seré?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Yes, you could. It's not for 100% of cases but it covers the vast majority :) If you have any doubts you can ask us here :)

[@harrywensel8456]

Gordon was sitting in front of some old style wallpaper. For this lesson Gordon was sitting in front of some old style wallpaper. Gordon sat in front of some old style wallpaper. Gordon used to sit in front of some old style wallpaper when he gave his lessons. I have challenged myself to translate these four sentences … When I do this I can review Gordon’s lesson all I want and research other lessons. But … no translator app until I would be willing to bet $100 dollars I did it perfectly. Try this and you will appreciate how good Gordon is and … have built some depth to your Spanish. Thank you Gordon …

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias a ti :) Espero tus oraciones :)

[@tomhartwig7234]

Hola Gordon! Si quiero decir "There was a lot of traffic", uso el verbo 'ser' o 'estar'? Solo estoy bromeando... sé que es el verbo "haber". Antes, decía "Fue mucho tráfico", pero ahora he aprendido la diferencia. Entonces, realmente hay cinco maneras de traducir "was". Gracias por los vídeos. Siempre estoy esperando más.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

jaja Tom. Buena pregunta. Creo que debería haberlo mencionado, ¿verdad?. Hasta el próximo vídeo. :)

[@thomassummerdj]

perfecto

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Gracias :)

[@badriabedri2049]

Thanks for making a video on this topic. It is hard to think about estar/ser and which one to use and when. I may have to watch this video again, which something I do with all video just listen again and take notes and hope the info sticks😂. The answer to: He was here this morning is : El testudo aqui Este mañana. The other sentnce: He das happy ali of This life: El estaba feliz todo su vida?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

He was happy all of his life: estuvo feliz toda su vida. (toda su vida is a measurement) :)

[@thegivingtreeyogabyvarshak7092]

But why is it fue (ser) isn't it describing his mood? That means it's a temporary situation. So shouldn't it be estar (estuve)?

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

Varsha...You can SER CONTENTO. and ESTAR CONTENTO. People whose personality is to be happy are described with SER. ESTAR is just the state that changes. If you were happy all your life, then that pretty much says that you were a happy person and therefore it refers to your personality and not your changeable state. Does that make sense?

[@willtabacchi1408]

LightSpeed Spanish Sticking my neck out -I disagree regarding "He was angry". I see this as a temporary situation -not that he was a long term emotionally disturbed person. So being once in a while angry, is a preterit situation

[@boo9133]

I get the diff between imperfect and preterite but the whole 'was it planned' thing??? Don't understand that AT ALLLL

[@available343]

Nice video! But there's a lyric of a song that doesn't add up with this. The lyric is: "Fue inevitable no perderme en tu sonrisa al mirarte, y hoy no logro encontrarme" I'd translate this to: "It was impossible not to lose myself in your smile looking at you, and today I can't find myself." But why was "fue" used? "It was impossible not to lose myself in your smile looking at you"... That's certainly not measurable, and I doubt it was the plan. I thought it should've been "era inevitable..." I'm just wondering why it's like this. I'd love for you to get back to me.

[@LightSpeedSpanishChannel]

available343 Hi. Great question. I would suggest that because this lyric is referring to very much a one off event and also, the preterite is an event that was very much completed (it was inevitable and I did lose myself in your smile) then the preterite is the best choice. Remember that being measurable is many times just inferred. Like: Ayer fue el martes. We are not formally measuring it yet by using the preterite that's exactly what we are doing. I wonder if that helps.:)

[@available343]

Thanks! But what about the plan? I doubt the singer planned for it to be inevitable not to lose himself. It wasn't planned, so shouldn't it be "era"?

[@tracy9061]

I’m only four or five years late! But you’re classes are fabulous. But is it “Era feliz todo su vida” or “Fue feliz...” It looks like you accept both? Muchísimas gracias!

[@grijalda75]

"Fue feliz toda su vida" is the right answer. There's a defined period of time

[@danielmoral9768]

@@grijalda75 Gracias!

[@tracy9061]

@@grijalda75 Muchisimas gracias! That helps to know :)

[@thekidkiddie6536]

El estuvo aqui esta manana El fue feliz toda su vidaIs that the answer?