ser / ocho y media / noche
Answer: Eran las ocho y media de la noche. (imperfect)
It was half past eight in the evening.
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Eva / leer en el sofá / cuando / el teléfono / sonar (ring)
Answer: Eva estaba leyendo en el sofá cuando sonó el teléfono. (imperfect, preterite)
Eva was reading on the couch when the phone rang.
Explanation: In this case the phone interrupted the action of reading what was happening. So the verb that interrupted the action must be conjugated in the preterite (sonó) and the one that was happening must be conjugated in the imperfect (estaba leyendo).
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(ella) levantarse / y contestar / el teléfono
Answer: Ella se levantó y contestó el teléfono. (preterite, preterite)
She got up and answered the phone.
Explanation: In this case the actions happened only once, so we use the preterite, in addition, since the verb is conjugated the <u>pronoun</u> is placed before the verb (<u>se</u> levantó).
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(ella) oír / la voz / de su mejor amiga
Answer: Ella oyó la voz de su mejor amiga. (preterite)
She heard the voice of her best friend.
Explanation: the action happened only once, so we must use the preterite.
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la amiga / estar / en el bar de la esquina (corner) / y querer hablarle
Answer: La amiga estaba en el bar de la esquina y quería hablarle. (imperfect, imperfect)
The friend was at the bar on the corner and she wanted to talk to her.
Explanation: In this case we are providing background information, so we use the imperfect.
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