1

Spanish: The Imperfect Tense

The tense used to described what you did in the past.

(With Exceptions)

By Michael Mauriello Inglesias5/28/14

2

When do we use the imperfect tense?

The imperfect then is used in a variety of scenarios. Though usually the preterit is used for many events in the past, there are a few exceptions to the preterit when the imperfect is used.

The imperfect tense is used when:

• When an action is habitual or continuous. (Ex. I ate Cheerios every morning.)

• When an action was interrupted by another. (Ex. I was walking down the street when I saw the robbery.)

• When something is being described in the past. (Ex. The skies were cloudy yesterday.)

• When an emotional or mental sensation occurs in the past. (Ex. Last week I felt very confused and alone.)

• When you are describing a time or age in the past. (Ex. When I was a kid…)

3

For –ar verbs:

Verb Root + Ar endings:

Aba Abamos

Abas Abais

Aba Aban

For –er & -ir verbs:

Verb Root + er&ir endings:

ίa ίamos

ίas ίais

ίa ίan

How do we form the imperfect? (regular)

4

How to form the irregular imperfect

There are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect. Those verbs being ser,ver and ir:

ser ver ir

eraeraseraéramoseraiseran

veíaveíasveíaveíamosveíaisveían

ibaibasibaíbamosibaisiban

Creative way to remember when the imperfect is used

---------------------------------------------

HabitualInterruptedDescriptionDescription(again)EmotionalNiño------------------------------------

---------H.I.D.D.E.N

It ca

n be

rem

ember

ed u

sing th

is

acro

nym: