preterit or imperfect?

Question

Good morning,Could you please help me with the decision process for which tense to use for questions like:- The journey was difficult.- It was easy to learn the language.Thank you very much!Susan

Answer

Hola Susan
You could use both the Indefinido and the Imperfecto here. It depends on the context and how the speaker considers the action -a completed action with a beginning and end (Indefinido) or an action that is descriptive and the beginning and end are not relevant (Imperfecto)
A bit more context is needed to be able to say which one you need to use. Is this part of a text from Kwiziq?

The journey was difficult.
El viaje fue/era difícil.
It was easy to learn the language.
Fue/era difícil aprender el idioma.

Saludos
Inma

Answer

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.  I understand exactly what you are saying--it depends on the intended scope of the statement, whether it is an activity that is all wrapped up and the speaker's meaning is "looking back on it" (preterit) or if the speaker was talking about the process itself in a descriptive manner (imperfect).  That is what I think you are saying.  This is not from a test from Kwiziq, it is from a Pimsleur Spanish listen and repeat lesson, and I don't think there was much context other than what I listed. Thank you again.