(b) Referring to past events related to the present (the Spanish perfect corresponds
almost exactly to the English perfect); there is some regional variation.
Ha bebido demasiado. (see 73.1) (in Latin America, Bebió demasiado is
more usual.)
He/she’s drunk too much. (implying that he/she is now drunk) 73.3 (p. 417)
(c) Referring to the recent past (again, variable according to region: the preterite is
preferred in a number of areas):He hablado con Carlos esta mañana. (see 73.1.3) (in Latin America,
Hablé con Carlos esta mañana is more usual.)
I spoke to Carlos this morning.20.4 (p. 98); 73.3 (p. 417)
17.3 Imperfect
17.3.1 Reference to past time
73.8–73.11 (pp. 420–423)
(a) An ongoing state or action in the past taking place over an unspecified period of
time:
Estaba enfermo. (see 73.8) I/he was ill.(b) Referring to past actions which were in progress when something else
happened:
Sole tocaba el piano cuando su hermana entró en el salón.
Sole was playing the piano when her sister came into the living room.
(c) Referring to past habitual actions:Nos veíamos todas las semanas. (see 73.9)
We used to see each other every week.17.3.2 Reference to the immediate future in the past
72.1 (p. 408); 72.2 (p. 411)
Ese día por la tarde yo me iba a Santiago. (see 72.2)
That day in the afternoon I was going to Santiago.17.3.3 ‘Modal’ uses
(a) In colloquial use, expressing the consequence of a conditional sentence (instead of
the conditional). 51.1 (p. 299)
Si no fuera por Miguel, no tenías (= tendrías) tantos amigos.
If it weren’t for Miguel, you wouldn’t have so many friends.17.3
USE OF THE VERB FORMS