Breakdown of Decidimos acampar por fanatismo hasta que vendieran el modelo limitado.
decidir
to decide
que
that / than
vender
to sell
acampar
to camp
el modelo
the model
por
for / by / through / in/during (part of the day)
hasta
until / as far as
limitado
limited
el fanatismo
the fanaticism
Questions & Answers about Decidimos acampar por fanatismo hasta que vendieran el modelo limitado.
Why is vendieran in the imperfect subjunctive instead of a past indicative tense?
The main action (decidimos) is in the past, and at that specific moment, the selling of the limited model hadn't happened yet. Because it was an anticipated event—a "future in the past"—the phrase hasta que (until) requires the imperfect subjunctive (vendieran).
If we know they eventually sold the model, why wouldn't we just use the past indicative (hasta que vendieron)?
Using the indicative (vendieron) would change the focus. It would simply state a chronological narrative: "we camped, and then they sold it." By using the imperfect subjunctive (vendieran), the sentence highlights the intention or anticipation of the campers at that exact moment in the past, rather than just stating historical facts.
Decidimos is spelled the same in the present and the past. How do we know it means "we decided" and not "we decide" here?
The verb vendieran gives it away! If decidimos were in the present tense ("we decide to camp"), the anticipated action would require the present subjunctive: hasta que vendan (until they sell). Because we see the imperfect subjunctive vendieran, we know the sentence has been backshifted, meaning the main verb must be in the past.
Learn Decidimos acampar por fanatismo hasta que vendieran el modelo limitado and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free