#021 Confused by PAST SIMPLE vs. IMPERFECT TENSE? SOLVE IT Easily with This Story!

Había una vez una zanahoria triste porque nadie la quería.

Once upon a time, there was a sad carrot because no one wanted it.

Tenía forma de serpiente

It was shaped like a serpent

y estaba llena de pequeños huecos negros.

and was filled with small black holes.

La zanahoria se preguntó:

The carrot wondered,

‘Si no puedo ser zanahoria,

“If I can’t be a carrot,

no sé para qué estoy aquí.’

I don’t know why I’m here.”

Un buen día,

One fine day

el agricultor pasó a su lado,

the farmer passed by,

la miró y exclamó:

he looked at her and exclaimed:

‘¡Qué zanahoria tan diferente!

“What a different carrot!

¡Tengo una idea!’

I have an idea!”

El agricultor la cogió

The farmer picked it up

y la depositó con cuidado en su cesta,

and carefully placed it in his basket,

no quería romperla.

not wanting to break it.

Sorprendida, la zanahoria se preguntó:

Surprised, the carrot wondered,

‘¿A dónde me lleva?

“Where is he taking me?

¿No ve que estoy torcida?’

Doesn’t he see I’m crooked?”

Emocionado, el agricultor entró a casa

Excited, the farmer entered the house

y llamó a su mujer:

and called his wife:

‘¡María! ¡Mira lo que he encontrado!’

‘Maria! Look what I found!'”

Intrigada por tanta emoción,

Intrigued by his excitement,

María bajó por las escaleras.

Maria came downstairs.

Entró a la cocina

She entered the kitchen,

y el agricultor le enseñó la zanahoria torcida y le dijo:

and the farmer showed her the crooked carrot, saying,

‘¡Mira! ¡Es perfecta! ¿No crees?’

“Look! It’s perfect! Don’t you think?”

‘Ya lo creo’, dijo María,

“I certainly do,” said Maria,

entusiasmada por el descubrimiento de su marido.

excited by her husband’s discovery.

‘Es justo lo que necesitamos.’

“It’s just what we need.”

María cogió la zanahoria que había traído su marido,

Maria took the carrot her husband had brought,

la peló

peeled it,

limpió los pequeños huecos negros con cuidado,

carefully cleaned the small black holes,

y colocó con delicadeza en su interior

and delicately placed inside

pequeñas florecitas blancas.

small white flower.

Sacó una enorme caja de zanahorias de la nevera

She took out a huge box of carrots from the refrigerator

y colocó a la zanahoria

and placed the carrot

vestida con sus bonitas flores

dressed with its beautiful flowers

en el centro.

in the center.

Ahora sí,

Now yes,

María y el agricultor estaban listos

Maria and the farmer were ready

para ir al mercado

to go to the market

a vender sus productos.

to sell their products.

Fue su mejor día de ventas

It was their best sales day

porque todos los clientes

because all the customers

se acercaban curiosos

came curiously

a observar la bonita zanahoria

to observe the beautiful carrot

vestida con sus pequeñas flores blancas

dressed with its small white flowers

y compraban en su puesto.

and bought from their stall.

Moraleja:

Moral:

Eres valioso, eres valiosa

You are valuable

tal y como eres en esencia.

just as you are in essence.

Want to understand how the past simple works in Spanish? Even better, do you want to use it in conversations and improve your fluency? Check out our Spanish Camino Quest—embark on a transformative journey, feel supported and inspired, and speak and understand Spanish on your next trip! ✨

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get full access to our community resources — and thrive with Spanish!

Data Controller: Spanish Camino LLC Purpose: To send newsletters with information, updates, promotions of products and/or services from the company. Legal Basis: Consent Retention Period: Until you unsubscribe. Rights and Additional Information: You can view all details in the privacy policy.