The Imperfect Tense:

Other Uses
P. 248
Realidades 2

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

You

already know how to use the

imperfect tense together with the
preterite to describe a situation
that existed when something else
happened.
Nadie estaba en la casa cuando
los bomberos entraron.

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

The

imperfect tense may also be

used:
To tell what time it was or what the
weather was like when something
happened.
Eran las cinco de la maana y llova
mucho cuando el accidente occuri.

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

To

describe the physical, mental,

and emotional states of a person
or thing when something
happened.
Muchas personas queran ayudar
a la familia, pero no saban que
hacer.

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

These

verbs are often used in

the imperfect to describe
states of being:

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

Estar

(triste, contento, cansado)

Parecer (cansado, mal)
Pensar
Querer
Sentirse (bien, enfermo)
Tener (calor, fro, hambre, sed, sueo)

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

and hubo are forms of
haber and both mean there was,
there were.
Haba is used to describe a
situation that existed in the past,
while hubo is used to say that an
event took place.
Haba

Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

Haba

mucho humo en el
apartamento.
Hubo un terremoto ayer a las
seis de la maana.