14. When I went to say good-bye to him (para despedirme de 61) he was writing (escribía or estaba escribiendo) a letter.
15. The cargo was examined and it was found that some of the fruit was unripe, some shrivelled or frost-bitten (tomada por la escarcha), and a parcel of garlic was rotten and had to be destroyed.
LESSON XXVI.
(Lección vigésima sexta.)
THE TENSES (contd.).
Uses of the Past Definite (or Preterite) and the Present Perfect (as: Yo he comprado: I have bought).
According to the English rule, the Past Def. (or Preterite) should be used to narrate events which happened in the past, in a period of time which does not include the present moment as—
Yo lo compre el ano pasado: I bought it last year.
The Present Perfect (called in Spanish Preterito Compuesto) should be used when the period of time includes the present moment, as—
He fletado muchos buques: I have chartered many ships.
By following this rule students will always be correct, but we must notice that in Spanish we find the "Preterito compuesto" often used instead of the Past Definite—