Estábamos en España durante las elecciones.
We were in Spain during the elections.
(the elections happened while we were in Spain; our stay in Spain was of
unspecified duration)Estuvimos un año en España.
We were in Spain for a year.
(we were in Spain for a specified length of time)Quería entrar.
He/she wanted to get in.
(efforts over an unspecified length of time)Quiso entrar.
He/she wanted to get in.
(refers to a particular occasion when he/she tried to get in)El siglo XVIII fue el Siglo de las Luces.
The eighteenth century was the Age of Enlightenment.
(considered as part of a historical sequence)En el siglo XVIII el viajar era muy peligroso.
In the eighteenth century travelling was very dangerous.
(describes a state of affairs at the time)17.5 Future
17.5.1 Reference to future time
^72 (p. 408)
¿Cree usted que venderán el piso? (see 49.1)
Do you think they’ll sell the flat?El presidente intentará poner fin a la crisis.
The president will try to put an end to the crisis.NOTE The future is rarely used in informal spoken language with simple future meaning, the present
(see 17.1.2) or the ir a + infinitive forms (see 20 ) being preferred.17.5.2 ‘Modal’ uses
(a) Saying uncertainty with regard to future plans:Supongo que el jefe vendrá a la reunión.
I suppose the boss will come to the meeting.(b) Saying intention:¿Vendrás conmigo? (see 70.3)
Will you (would you like to) come with me?17.5
USE OF THE VERB FORMS