Past tense agreement (imperfect vs. indefinite/simple past)
With desde que (since) and cuando (when), we can narrate past events combining the past imperfect and the past indefinite/simple past.
Cuando entraba, vi a Ana en la recepción.
As I was coming in, I saw Ana at the reception desk.
Desde que era pequeño, estudió piano.
Since he was a child, he studied piano.
We use:
Desde que (since) + past imperfect + past indefinite (before or after desde que) to place the action at a specific time in the past.
Desde que era niña, aprendió a bailar → aprendió a bailar de niña.
Since she was a child, she learned to dance → she learned to dance as a child.
Desde que (since) + past imperfect + past imperfect (before or after desde que) to express a past action that will no longer happen.
Desde que tenía 15 años, no comía carne.
Since he was 15 years old, he hadn't eaten meat.
Cuando (when) + past imperfect + past indefinite to present a situation in the past that happens at a specific time.
Cuando tenía 18 años, empecé la universidad.
When I was 18, I started college.
Cuando (when) + past imperfect + past imperfect to present situations that took place at an imprecise moment in the past.
Cuando era niño, iba al parque.
When I was a kid, I used to go to the park.
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