Tense as a stylistic device
Normally a tense tells you when something happens. Two uses break away from that: the presente histórico tells past events in the present and brings them closer. The imperfecto de cortesía wraps a request for right now in the past and so creates distance. English has close relatives of both: In 1492 Columbus reaches America and I was wondering if ....
Presente histórico
History books, biographies, timelines and documentaries use the present for finished events. The dates make it clear that this is the past. The present narrates step by step, without switching between indefinido and imperfecto. Spanish uses it in neutral factual writing far more freely than English does.
The same biography
Neutral - indefinido
Frida Kahlo nació en 1907 en Coyoacán.
Frida Kahlo was born in Coyoacán in 1907.
En 1925 sufrió un grave accidente de autobús.
In 1925 she was badly injured in a bus accident.
Narrative - present
Frida Kahlo nace en 1907 en Coyoacán.
Frida Kahlo is born in Coyoacán in 1907.
En 1925 sufre un grave accidente de autobús.
In 1925 she is badly injured in a bus accident.
In everyday storytelling, too, speakers jump into the present, often right at the exciting moment. The build-up stays in the past, the climax switches to the present, as in English so I'm walking down the street and ....
In conversation
Ayer iba por la calle y de repente me encuentro a mi exjefe.
Yesterday I was walking down the street and suddenly I bump into my old boss.
Y entonces me mira y me dice: «¿Tú otra vez?»
And then he looks at me and goes: “You again?”
Imperfecto de cortesía
With verbs like querer, venir, llamar or desear in the imperfect, you make a request that applies right now. The past form pretends the wish is older and less pressing, which sounds reserved. Shop assistants ask this way, and customers answer this way. English does something similar with I was wondering and I wanted to ask.
Buenos días, ¿qué quería?
Good morning, what can I get you?
Shop assistant.
Quería pedirte un favor.
I wanted to ask you a favour.
A request that applies now.
Venía a preguntar por el piso del tercero.
I was hoping to ask about the flat on the third floor.
At reception or at the door.
Llamaba por lo de la factura.
I'm calling about the invoice.
On the phone.
