Chapter 3
Topic 1 Imperfect Tense
The imperfect, like the preterit, is one of the two simple past tenses in Spanish.
| Hablar | Comer | Vivir |
|---|---|---|
| -aba | -ía | -ía |
| -abas | -ías | -ías |
| -aba | -ía | -ía |
| -abamos | -íamos | -íamos |
| -aban | -ían | -ían |
- 1st & 3rd Person Singular are the same.
- -er & -ir ending verbs are the same.
- -er & -ir have accents.
| Ser (to be) | Ir (to go) | Ver (to see) |
|---|---|---|
| -era | -iba | -veía |
| -eras | -ibas | -veías |
| -era | -iba | -veía |
| -eramos | -íbamos | -veíamos |
| -eran | -iban | -veían |
- There are only 3 irregular verbs in the imperfect.
- 1st & 3rd Person Singular are the same.
- Ver have accents.
The imperfect tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, actions that were in progress or recurrent actions, conditions, or events in the past.
- Habitual or repeated actions are often things a person used or would do over and over.
- Íbamos a la playa todos los veranos. We used to go to the beach every summer.
- Actions that were in progress (-ing), in the past.
- Estaba preparando el almuerzo. I was preparing lunch.
- When talking about a past action in progress was interrupted,
- the action in progress is in the imperfect,
- while interrupting action is in the preterit.
- Estaba durmiendo cuando sonó el teléfono. I was sleeping when the phone rang.
States of being in the past.
- Common verbs that describe conditions or situations in the past: tener, estar, ser, gustar.
- Me gustaba leer novelas románticas. I used to like reading romantic novels.
- To state habitual actions in the past.
- Past habits are commonly translated as used to.
- Cuando era niña, usaba mi bicicleta todos los días. When I was a little girl, I used to use my bike every day.
Time & Date
Era la una de la mañana. It was one o’clock in the morning.
Era el 25 de diciembre. It was December 25th.
Age
Las chicas tenían 24 años. The young ladies were 24 years old.
El niño tenía tres años la última vez que lo vi. The boy was three years old last time I saw him.
Conditions (emotional and weather), Descriptions of Characteristics
Me sentía contenta con mi carro nuevo. I was happy with my new car.
Mi abuela era baja y tenía el pelo gris. My grandmother was short and had grey hair.
Llovía mucho ese día. It was raining that day.
b. Juan was speaking with his sister
b. My friends and I go to the movies on Sundays when we are in college.
b. I was reading while he was watching television.
b. My grandfather will have a lot of energy.
