Question 1

Why do we use the imperfect era here instead of the preterite fue?

Accepted Answer

This is the core rule of backshifting in reported speech! The original direct question was in the present tense: "¿Es normal?" (Is it normal?). Because the reporting verb preguntó is in the past, that present tense es shifts a step back in time to the imperfect era (was).

Question 2

Since this is an indirect question, shouldn't si have an accent mark?

Accepted Answer

No, si doesn't take an accent here. In Spanish, we use accents on question words like qué or cuándo in both direct and indirect questions. However, si just means "if" or "whether" as a conjunction. It only gets an accent when it means "yes" (sí) or refers to "oneself."

Question 3

Is pretendiente related to the English word "pretending"?

Accepted Answer

They share the same Latin root, but pretendiente doesn't mean someone is faking things! It refers to someone who aspires or lays claim to something. While it usually translates to a romantic "suitor," it can also mean a "candidate" or "applicant" for a job or title.

Question 4

Could we use estaba normal instead of era normal, since a "weirdness" might just be a temporary situation?

Accepted Answer

You should stick with era. In Spanish, being normal is treated as a defining characteristic or a classification, so it almost always pairs with ser. Even if the weird event itself was temporary, asking if it belongs to the category of "normal" requires ser.

El pretendiente preguntó si esa rareza era normal.

Breakdown of El pretendiente preguntó si esa rareza era normal.

Questions & Answers about El pretendiente preguntó si esa rareza era normal.

Learn El pretendiente preguntó si esa rareza era normal and more in Spanish