Questions and Answers
What is the Imperfect tense used for in Spanish?
To describe a continuous action in the past
Which of the following sentences is an example of using the Imperfect to describe a repeated action in the past?
Nos levantábamos a las siete de la mañana cada día.
What is the Imperfect used for in the sentence 'Era alto'?
To describe a background detail
Which of the following is NOT a reason to use the Imperfect tense?
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What is the Imperfect used for in the sentence 'Veía la tele cuando el teléfono sonó'?
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What is the conjugation of the regular -ar verb in the first person singular (Yo) in the Imperfect tense?
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Which of the following is the correct conjugation of the regular -er verb in the third person plural (Ellos/Ellas/Uds.) in the Imperfect tense?
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What is the conjugation of the irregular verb 'Ser' in the second person plural (Vosotros/as) in the Imperfect tense?
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What is the conjugation of the regular -ir verb in the first person plural (Nosotros/as) in the Imperfect tense?
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Which of the following is the correct conjugation of the irregular verb 'Ver' in the third person singular (Él/Ella/Ud.) in the Imperfect tense?
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Study Notes
The Imperfect Tense in Spanish
- The Imperfect tense is used to describe the past, specifically for repeated actions, background details, and what people used to do and what things used to be like.
Six Reasons to Use the Imperfect
- To describe a continuous action in the past: e.g. Jugaba al fútbol ayer (I was playing football yesterday)
- To describe repeated or habitual actions in the past: e.g. Nos levantábamos a las siete de la mañana cada día (We used to get up at seven in the morning every day)
- To provide descriptions: e.g. Era alto (He was tall)
- To indicate time: e.g. Eran las diez (It was ten o'clock)
- To express periods of time in the past: e.g. Cuando era joven… (When I was young…)
- To describe an interrupted action: e.g. Veía la tele cuando el teléfono sonó (I was watching the TV when the phone rang)
Conjugating Regular Verbs (-ar, -er, -ir)
- Yo form: drop -ar, -er, or -ir and add -a, -e, or -i respectively
- Nosotros/as form: drop -ar, -er, or -ir and add -amos, -emos, or -imos respectively
- Tú form: drop -ar, -er, or -ir and add -as, -es, or -is respectively
- Vosotros/as form: drop -ar, -er, or -ir and add -áis, -éis, or -ís respectively
- Él/Ella/Ud. form: drop -ar, -er, or -ir and add -a, -e, or -i respectively
- Ellos/Ellas/Uds. form: drop -ar, -er, or -ir and add -an, -en, or -in respectively
Examples of Regular Verb Conjugation
- -ar verb conjugation:
- Yo: aba
- Nosotros/as: ábamos
- Tú: abas
- Vosotros/as: abais
- Él/Ella/Ud.: aba
- Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: aban
- -er and -ir verb conjugation:
- Yo: ía
- Nosotros/as: íamos
- Tú: ías
- Vosotros/as: íais
- Él/Ella/Ud.: ía
- Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: ían
Conjugating Irregular Verbs (Ser, Ir, Ver)
- Ser (to be):
- Yo: era
- Nosotros/as: éramos
- Tú: eras
- Vosotros/as: erais
- Él/Ella/Ud.: era
- Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: eran
- Ir (to go):
- Yo: iba
- Nosotros/as: íbamos
- Tú: ibas
- Vosotros/as: ibais
- Él/Ella/Ud.: iba
- Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: iban
- Ver (to see):
- Yo: veía
- Nosotros/as: veíamos
- Tú: veías
- Vosotros/as: veíais
- Él/Ella/Ud.: veía
- Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: veían
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Description
Learn about the Spanish Imperfect tense, its uses, and how to describe past actions and habits.
