Imperfect: Part I
The imperfect is used for past actions that are not seen
as completed. Use of the imperfect tense implies that the
past action did not have a definite beginning or a
definite end.
The imperfect is used for past actions that are not seen
as completed.
Imperfect: Part I
A. Choose the correct imperfect tense conjugation for
model verbs (hablar, comer, vivir).
To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the imperfect, simply
drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:
1. hablar él
aba ábamos
abas abais
aba aban
To conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the imperfect,
simply drop the ending (-er or -ir) and add one of the
following:
ía
íamos
ías íais
ía
ían
Here are all three regular imperfect verb forms together:
hablar
comer
vivir
hablaba
comía
vivía
hablabas comías vivías
hablaba
comía
vivía
hablábamoscomíamosvivíamos
hablabais comíais vivíais
hablaban comían vivían
The imperfect is used for actions that were repeated
habitually.
Almorzábamos juntos todos los días.
We would lunch together every day.
Las señoras siempre charlaban por las mañanas.
The ladies would always chat in the mornings.
2. comer la muchacha y yo
3. vivir tú
B. Choose the correct imperfect tense conjugation for
model verbs (hablar, comer, vivir).
4. las señoritas
hablan
hablaron
5. las mujeres
comen
6. tú
hablé
hablabas
7. yo
comí
comió
8. usted
vivía
vivíais
10. nosotros
vivíamos
11. ustedes
comieron
viven
comía
vive
vivisteis
vivían
C. Choose the correct tense (present, preterite,
imperfect).
12. I wash the car. Yo
el coche.
13. I washed the table. Yo
la mesa.
Yo leía cuando entró mi papá.
I was reading when my papa entered. (note that
"entered" is preterite)
16. He ate the food. Él
La niña tenía cinco años.
The little girl was five years old.
viviste
vivieron
14. I was washing the dishes. Yo
Eran las siete de la noche.
It was seven o'clock at night.
vives
vivimos
The imperfect is used for actions that "set the stage" for
another action.
The imperfect is used for telling time and stating one's age.
comían
hablaste
vivió
9. vosotros
hablaban
15. He eats meat. Él
los platos.
carne.
la comida.
17. He was eating shellfish. Él
mariscos.
18. They used to live in England. Ellos
Inglaterra.
19. They lived in Peru for three years.
en
Ellos
en el Perú por tres años.
20. Nowadays, they live in Spain. Actualmente, ellos
en España.
The above examples all fall within our general rule for
using the imperfect:
1
Imperfect: Part II
10. Juan y yo
Remember, the imperfect is used for past actions that
are not seen as completed. The imperfect tense implies
that the past action did not have a definite beginning or a
definite end. The imperfect tells when -- in general, an
action occurred.
Good news! There are only three irregular verbs in the
imperfect. You must simply memorize them.
11. las mujeres
12. tú
viste
vamos
íbamos
ven
veían
ves
iban
vieron
veías
D. Choose the correct tense (present, preterite,
imperfect).
13. I was a carpenter for three years.
Yo
carpintero por tres años.
14. I was once a carpenter.
ser
ir
ver
era
eras
era
éramos
erais
eran
iba
ibas
iba
íbamos
ibais
iban
veía
veías
veía
veíamos
veíais
veían
Una vez yo
carpintero.
15. Carmen goes to the beach.
Carmen
a la playa.
16. Carmen went to the beach last summer.
Carmen
a la playa el verano pasado.
17. Carmen went to the beach every afternoon.
To review some of the rules for using the imperfect:
Carmen
a la playa cada tarde.
The imperfect is used for actions that were repeated
habitually.
18. We see the boat. Nosotros
19. We saw the boat yesterday.
The imperfect is used for actions that "set the stage" for
another action.
Nosotros
el barco ayer.
20. We would see the boat every morning.
The imperfect is used for telling time and stating one's age.
Nosotros
el barco.
el barco cada mañana.
Imperfect: Part II
Imperfect: Part III
A. Choose the correct imperfect tense conjugation for
the three irregular verbs (ser, ir, ver).
One way to determine if a verb is actually the imperfect is
to try substituting one of the following:
1. ser el perro
was/were ...ing
used to ...
would (meaning used to) ...
2. ir tú
The following examples show how to use this substitution
test for the imperfect:
3. ver Juan y María
B. Choose between present and imperfect.
4. It's five o'clock.
Son las cinco.
5. It was two o'clock.
Son las dos.
6. It was one o'clock.
Es la una.
I worked in the agency during the day.
I was working in the agency during the day.
Eran las cinco.
Eran las dos.
Era la una.
I visited my grandmother every day.
I used to visit my grandmother every day.
Every afternoon I took a nap.
Every afternoon I would take a nap.
C. Choose the correct imperfect tense conjugation for
irregular verbs (ser, ir, ver).
7. él
fue
8. tú
eran
9. las señoritas
es
One does not normally think of a general mental state or
physical sensations as having a definite beginning or
end, and so they are usually expressed in the imperfect.
era
eras
fueron
fuiste
iban
van
Ramón tenía miedo de hablar en público.
Ramón was afraid to speak in public.
2
7. Pablo read the paper last night.
Yo creía que Juan podía hacerlo.
I thought that Juan could do it.
leyó
Me gustaba el coche.
I liked the car. (The car was pleasing to me.)
The imperfect is used to describe how things were or what
things were like. Use the imperfect when describing the
characteristics of people, things or conditions.
Era un muchacho muy inteligente.
He was a very intelligent boy.
Era una señorita muy guapa.
She was a beautiful young lady.
Las ventanas estaban abiertas.
The windows were open.
leía
B. Choose the correct tense for the following general
mental states and physical sensations.
8. I waited in the rain for the taxi.
9. She loved the boy.
amó
10. Their feet hurt.
dolieron
esperé
amaba
dolían
11. They were very tired.
estuvieron
12.
The ladies liked her church dress.
gusto
estaban
gustaba
La casa era blanca.
The house was white.
13. I knew that.
Imperfect: Part III
14. They wanted more food.
quisieron
15. You-all couldn't change the tire.
A. Try substituting "was/were ...ing" "used to ..." or
"would ..." (meaning "used to ...") for the verb in order to
determine whether the tense should be imperfect or
preterite.
esperaba
supe
no pudisteis
sabía
querían
no podíais
16. He thought about the day they met.
1. Every day I visited my aunt. (used to visit)
pensó
visité
visitaba
2. He wore a white shirt to the party.
llevó
llevaba
3. He wore a white shirt every day. (used to wear)
llevó
llevaba
pensaba
C. The following sentences all describe how things
were, or what things were like. Which is appropriate,
imperfect or preterite?
17. The house was white.
fue
era
18. The sky was cloudy.
estuvo
estaba
19. The bag was heavy.
estuvo
estaba
20. The store was full of candy.
estuvo
4. Carmen prepared dinner when the doorbell rang. (was
preparing)
prepare
preparaba
5. Juan ran ten miles.
corrió
corría
6. Juan ran most mornings. (used to run)
corrió
corría
3
estaba