Breakdown of El primer pretendiente me preguntó si yo comía pan.
yo
I
comer
to eat
el pan
the bread
me
to me / me (direct object)
primero
first
preguntar
to ask
si
if
el pretendiente
suitor
Questions & Answers about El primer pretendiente me preguntó si yo comía pan.
Why is comía in the imperfect tense here?
This is an example of past reported speech. The suitor's original question was likely in the present tense: "¿Comes pan?" (Do you eat bread?). When you report a present tense question using a past tense reporting verb (me preguntó), the present tense backshifts to the imperfect tense (comía).
Does si need an accent mark here?
No. In this sentence, si means "if" or "whether" and introduces the indirect yes/no question. It only takes an accent mark (sí) when it means "yes" or when it is used as a reflexive pronoun after a preposition.
Why is the pronoun yo included before comía?
Does pretendiente mean "pretender"?
No, they are false friends. Pretendiente means "suitor" or "candidate" (someone pursuing a romantic relationship or a position). It comes from the verb pretender, which means to intend, expect, or woo, rather than to fake something.
Why isn't there a definite article before pan?
You omit the definite article (like el) when talking about an unspecified quantity of a mass noun or substance, especially after verbs of consumption like comer. He was asking if you ate bread in general, not a specific loaf.
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