IMPERFECT TENSE

Uses of the Imperfect Tense

In general, the imperfect is used to talk about past actions, conditions, or events that occurred
habitually or repeatedly or that were in progress at a point in the past. It is also used to tell time,
talk about dates, give a person's age, and describe characteristics, conditions, and feelings in
the past.

1. Habitual or Repeated Actions

Habitual or repeated actions are those that were done over and over in the past. These actions
are indicated by the phrases, ‘used to’ or would.

Examples

1. Almorzábamos cada día. - We used to eat lunch together every day.

2. Todos los sábados las mujeres iban de compras. - Every Saturday

the women would go shopping.

2. Actions that Were in Progress in the Past

The imperfect tenss is also used to refer to actions that continued in the past for an unspecified
period of time.

When talking about a past action in progress that was interrupted, the action in progress is in
the imperfect, while the interrupting action is in the preterite.

Examples
(Imperfect tense) Iba a clase cuando (preterite tense) sonó el teléfono. - I was going to class
when the telephone rang.

Mi papá (Imperfect tense) cocinaba cuando (preterite tense) entré a casa.- My dad was
cooking when I came in the house.

3. Times and Dates

The imperfect is used to talk about times and dates in the past.

Examples
Eran las tres de la tarde. - It was three o'clock in the afternoon.
Era el 9 de mayo. - It was 9th of May.
4. Age

The Imperfect is commonly used to talk about age in the past.

Examples
La niña tenía 4 años.- The little girl was 4 years old.
Los chicos tenían doce años.- The boys were twelve years old

5. Descriptions of Characteristics, Conditions, and Feelings

The imperfect is used to give descriptions in the past, especially those that set the scene in
terms of the senses.

Examples
Mi profesor era alto y tenía el pelo ondulado. - My professor was tall and had wavy hair.
El campo era bello. - The countryside was beautiful.

Hacía calor esa noche. - It was hot that night.

Me sentía feliz con mi trabajo nuevo. - I was happy with my new job.
Here is the translation for AR, ER and IR verbs in the Imperfect tense:

Comer (to eat)

Yo comía– I used to eat
Tú comías – You used toeat (familiar)
Él comía – He used to eat
Ella comía – She used to eat
Comía usted – You used to eat (formal)
Nosotros comíamos We used to eat
Ellos comían – They used to eat
(masculine plural)
Ellas comían – They used to eat (feminine
plural)
Escribir (to write)
Comían ustedes – You all used to eat
Yo escribía– I used to write
Tú escribías – You used to write (familiar)
Cantar (to sing)
Él escribía – He used to write
Yo cantaba – I used to sing
Ella escribía – She used to write
Tú cantabas – You used to sing (familiar)
Escribía usted – You used to write
Él cantaba – He used to sing
(formal)
Ella cantaba– She used to sing
Nosotros escribíamos We used to write
Cantaba usted – You used to sing (formal)
Ellos escribían – They used to write
Nosotros cantábamos – We used to sing (masculine plural)
Ellos cantaban– They used to sing Ellas escribían – They used to write
(masculine plural) (feminine plural)
Ellas cantaban – They used to sing Escribían ustedes – You all used to write
(feminine plural)
Cantaban ustedes – You all used to sing
Here are the only three irregular verbs in the
Imperfect tense:

1. IR (to go)
Yo iba – I used to go
Tú ibas – You used to go (familiar)
Él iba – He used to go
Ella iba– She used to go
Iba usted – You sing (formal)
Nosotros ibamos – We used to go
Ellos iban– They used to go (masculine
3. VER (to see)
plural)
Yo veía– I used to see
Ellas iban – They used to go (feminine
plural) Tú veias – You used to see (familiar)
Iban ustedes – You all used to go Él veía – He used to see
Ella veía – She used to see
Veía usted – You used to see (formal)
2. SER (to be) Nosotros veíamos - We used to see
Yo era – I used to be Ellos veían – They used to see (masculine
plural)
Tú eras – You used to be (familiar)
Ellas veían – They used to see (feminine
Él era – He used to be
plural)
Ella era– She used to be
Veían ustedes – You all used to see
Iba usted – You used to be (formal)
Nosotros eramos – We used to be
Ellos eran– They used to be (masculine
plural)
Ellas eran – They used to go be (feminine
plural)
Eran ustedes – You all used to be
Here are time phrases associated with Imperfect Tense

1. Always – Siempre

2. Almost always – Casi siempre

3. Every day – Todos los días,

4. Every week –Todas las semanas

5. Every month –Todos los meses

6. Every year - Todos los años

7. Usually – Normalmente / Usualmente

8. Frequently – Con frecuencia / frecuentemente

9. A menudo – Often

10. Sometimes – A veces

11. Almost never – Casi nunca

12. Never – Nunca

13. From time to time - En vez de cuando

14. Generally - Generalmente / Por lo general

15. Rarely – Raramente

16. Every (each) day - Cada día

17.A lot – Mucho

18. For a while – Por un rato

19. Always – Siempre

20. In that time – En aquella época

21. So many times – Tantas veces

22. Many times – Muchas veces

23. All the time – Todo el tiempo

24. Several times – Algunas veces