How to tell stories in Spanish

Telling stories in spanish is one of the most human ways to connect with others, to share our experiences, dreams, and memories.

In learning and using Spanish, mastering the simple past and the imperfect past is not only fundamental for effective communication, but also helps us to enrich our ability to express ourselves and connect with others through conversations.

Through these verb tenses, we can construct a context to revive past moments with clarity and emotion.

The Simple Past

The simple past, or preterite perfect simple, is used to indicate actions that started and ended in the past. This verb tense is essential for giving closure to the experiences we narrate, marking the beginning and end of specific events.

Cuando visité Buenos Aires por primera vez, viví la ciudad de una manera intensa y única. Caminé por las calles empedradas del barrio de La Boca, comí en una parrilla tradicional y me sorprendí al ver el majestuoso Teatro Colón.

Each verb in the simple past here indicates a complete action, a precise moment in my memory.

The Imperfect Past

On the other hand, the imperfect past is used to describe actions that were unfolding in the past without a defined endpoint. This verb tense establishes the context, describes states or habitual actions in the past, and serves as the backdrop upon which the narrated events unfold.

Cuando era niño, vivía en un pueblo pequeño cerca del mar. Iba a la playa todos los días y jugaba en la arena hasta el atardecer.

Here, the imperfect past immerses us in a past atmosphere, in the routine, and in the scenarios that frame our experiences.

Combining Both Tenses

The true magic of narrative happens when we combine these two verb tenses to tell our stories.

Thus, the imperfect past sets the stage, describing the context and circumstances that developed, while the simple past narrates the specific events that occurred at that time.

Cuando vivía en Madrid (imperfect), un día decidí explorar la ciudad solo (simple). Mientras caminaba sin rumbo por las calles (imperfect), descubrí un pequeño café escondido (simple) que se convirtió en mi lugar favorito (simple).

Tips to Tell Stories in Spanish

• Practice with Your Own Experiences: Start by narrating simple events from your everyday life, using the simple past for concluded actions and the imperfect past to describe contexts or habitual actions.
• Read and Listen to Stories in Spanish: Exposing yourself to literature, podcasts, and videos in Spanish will help you become familiar with the narrative structure and the effective use of these verb tenses.
• Write Regularly: Keep a diary in Spanish where you recount your day, your memories, or invent stories. This will allow you to practice alternating between the imperfect past and the simple past.

Let’s remember that each verb tense has its purpose and beauty within the stories we tell. Learning to use them not only enriches our ability to communicate in a new language but also gives us a powerful tool to connect with other people, sharing fragments of our life and understanding those of others as well.

In conclusion, constant practice, insatiable curiosity, and love for learning are the ideal companions on this journey towards narrative fluency in Spanish.

Thus, as we close this guide, I invite you to carry not only the technical knowledge of how to use the simple past and the imperfect past but also the inspiration to tell your stories, to listen to those of others, and to find in each narration a bridge between different cultural worlds.

Start practicing how to tell your story.