Preterite vs. Imperfect.

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
4,821
766
113
Hola Nan,

That’s a very good observation and question. You’re right from a grammatical standpoint it should be siempre soñaba but in my experience you will see and hear the preterite tense after siempre.

Siempre
describes a repeated action which should be followed by the imperfect
when using the past tense but you will see and hear the preterite a high percentage of the time.

It sounds like a clash to me. For ex, when I hear people say siempre pensé…..🤔 it should be siempre pensaba.

-MP.
 

flyinroom

Silver
Aug 26, 2012
3,796
683
113
What about the idea that the act of dreaming has a definite beginning and end?
The siempre is indicating an oft repeated action rather than a continuous action.
Perhaps the difference lies in the difference between the "repeated" and the "continuous".
An often repeated action would indeed call for the use of the past tense.