Question 1

Why do we use the imperfect verbs vivían and eran here instead of the preterite?

Accepted Answer

In this lesson, we are using cuando (when) to talk about a continuous block of time in the past, rather than a single completed event. Because living in the countryside and being farmers were ongoing states or habits, we use the imperfect tense. You can think of it as meaning "During the time that you lived..."

Question 2

What verb is eran? It doesn't look like a normal imperfect ending.

Accepted Answer

Eran is the imperfect form of ser (to be) for ustedes, ellos, and ellas. Ser is one of only three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense (the other two are ir and ver), so you just have to memorize its forms: era, eras, era, éramos, eran.

Question 3

Why does ustedes (you plural) use the same verb endings as "they" (vivían, eran)?

Accepted Answer

In Latin American Spanish, ustedes is the standard way to say "you" to a group of people. Grammatically, it always uses the third-person plural verb endings, exactly the same as ellos or ellas.

Question 4

Why isn't there an article before campesinos, like "¿eran unos campesinos?"

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, when you state someone's profession, nationality, or basic identity right after the verb ser, you drop the article. While English uses an article to say "I am a teacher", Spanish simply says "I am teacher" (soy maestro). The same rule applies to plural identities like eran campesinos.

Question 5

Are the words campo and campesinos related?

Accepted Answer

Yes! El campo means the countryside or the field. A campesino is someone who lives and works in the campo—usually translated as a farmer, farmworker, or peasant.

Cuando ustedes vivían en el campo, ¿eran campesinos?

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