1. Claudia (celebrar) su cumpleaños cuando se torció el tobillo.
Explanation 1: The action of celebrating was happening when Claudia injured her ankle. Therefore the verb "celebrar" must be conjugated in the imperfect past and the verb "torcer" in the preterite.
Answer 1: Claudia celebraba su cumpleaños cuando se torció el tobillo.
Translation 1: Claudia celebrated her birthday when she sprained her ankle.
2. Ramiro tenía fiebre cuando (llegar) a la clínica.
Explanation 2: The action of "tener" was happening when Ramiro arrived at the clinic. Therefore the verb "tener" must be conjugated in the imperfect past and the verb "llegar" in the preterite.
Answer 2: Ramiro tenía fiebre cuando llegó a la clínica.
Translation 2: Ramiro had a fever when he arrived at the clinic.
3. Mientras el doctor (mirar) la radiografía, yo llamé por teléfono a mi novia.
Explanation 3: The action of "mirar" was happening when I phoned. Therefore the verb "mirar" must be conjugated in the imperfect past and the verb "llamar" in the preterite.
Answer 3: Mientras el doctor miraba la radiografía, yo llamé por teléfono a mi novia.
Translation 3: While the doctor looked at the radiography, I phoned my girlfriend.
4. (Yo) (estar) mirando la televisión cuando mi mamá se lastimó la mano con la puerta.
Explanation 4: The action of "mirar" was happening when my mom hurt her hand. Therefore the verb "mirar" must be conjugated in the imperfect past and the verb "lastimar" in the preterite.
Answer 4: (Yo) estaba mirando la televisión cuando mi mamá se lastimó la mano con la puerta.
Translation 4: I was watching TV when my mom hurt her hand with the door.
5. Cuando Sandra llegó a la universidad, (tener) un dolor de cabeza terrrible.
Explanation 5: The action of "tener" was happening when Sandra arrived at the university. Therefore the verb "tener" must be conjugated in the imperfect past and the verb "llegar" in the preterite.
Answer 5: Cuando Sandra llegó a la universidad, tenía un dolor de cabeza terrrible.
Translation 5: When Sandra arrived at the university, she had a terrible headache.
6. ¿Dé niño (tú) (enfermarse) con frecuencia?
Explanation 6: If the action of getting sick usually happened in the past, the verb must be conjugated in the imperfect past.
Answer 6: ¿Dé niño (tú) te enfermabas con frecuencia?
Translation 6: As a child, did you get sick often?
7. El verano pasado, Luis y Olivia (sufrir) una enfermedad exótica.
Explanation 7: If the action of suffering a disease happened only once in the past, the verb must be conjugated in the preterite.
Answer 7: El verano pasado, Luis y Olivia sufrieron una enfermedad exótica.
Translation 7: Last summer, Luis and Olivia suffered an exotic disease.
8. Anoche, mi primo y yo (perder) la receta de mi tía.
Explanation 8: Since the action of losing the recipe happened only once in the past, the verb must be conjugated in the preterite.
Answer 8: Anoche, mi primo y yo perdimos la receta de mi tía.
Translation 8: Last night, my cousin and I lost my aunt's recipe.
9. Cuando era pequeña, Sara (bailar) ballet todos los lunes y miércoles. Ayer Sara (bailar) ballet en el recital de la universidad.
Explanation 9: Since the action of dancing ballet usually happened in the past when Sara was a child, the verb must be conjugated in the imperfect past. When she danced only once yesterday in the recital, the verb must be conjugated in the preterite.
Answer 9: Cuando era pequeña, Sara bailaba ballet todos los lunes y miércoles. Ayer Sara bailó ballet en el recital de la universidad.
Translation 9: When she was a child, Sara danced ballet every Monday and Wednesday. Yesterday, Sara danced ballet at the university recital.
10. La semana pasada, (yo) le (escribir) un mensaje electróico a mi papá. Antes (yo) (escribir) las cartas a mano o con una máquina de escribir.
Explanation 10: Since the action of writing a mail happened only once last week, the verb must be conjugated in the preterite. Before, she wrote usually by hand, so the verb must be conjugated in the imperfect past.
Answer 10: La semana pasada, (yo) le escribí un mensaje electrónico a mi papá. Antes (yo) escribía las cartas a mano o con una máquina de escribir.
Translation 10: Last week, I wrote an email to my dad. Before, I wrote the letters by hand or with a typewriter.
Spymore
