5
El imperfecto de los verbos regulares
We use the imperfect tense to talk about things like events
or actions in the past that had no clear beginning and/or
ending.
Ex. I Ex. I was doingwas doing my homework my homework
I I used to cryused to cry at night at night
I always I always annoyedannoyed my sister my sister
Regular verb endings for imperfect verbs
-aba -ábamos
-abas -abais
-aba -aban
-ía -íamos
-ías -íais
-ía -ían
-ar ending verbs -er/-ir ending verbs
OMG!The “yo” and the“he-she-it” formsare the same in
the imperfect tense!How “loco” is
that!
Imperfect Irregular Verbs
era éramos
eras erais
era eran
Ex. Yo era pequeño
ser
iba íbamos
ibas ibais
iba iban
Ex. Iba a escuela
ir
veía veíamos
veías veíais
veía veían
Ex. Veía la tele
ver
Reasons to use the imperfectUncertain beginning and/or end
Habitual
Indefinite expression
Description/weather
Time/Date
Origin/nationality
Age
Emotion/Feeling
Mental Process
Past tense-ing form or
an interruptedevent oraction
Reasons to use the imperfectUncertain beginning and/or end
Habitual
Indefinite expression
Description/weather
Time/Date
Origin/nationality
Age
Emotion/Feeling
Mental Process
Past tense-ing form or
an interruptedevent oraction
UglyUglyHippoHippo
InInDeepDeep
TroubleTroubleOverOverAngryAngryEvilEvilManMan
Reasons for using the imperfect
Uncertain beginning and or ending to a past action or event. Also, can be thought of the past tense “ing” form. Ex. Lavaba los platos. Estaba picando la nariz, cuando saqué la foto.
Habitual events or actions in the past occurred regularly or in expected order or pattern. Ex. Me cepillaba los dientes. Me bañaba por la noche.
Indefinite expressions indicated the idea of infinity or beyond! Like the event or action always or never occurred using words like always and never. Ex. Siempre leía. Nunca bailaba.
Describing a physical or non physical state in the past tense is imperfect because its precise beginning or end cannot be determined or he/she/it could “still”. Weather is also imperfect in the past. Ex: Era muy gordo. Tenía hambre. Luvía. Hacía sol.
Time is imperfect because it is an infinite process that never ends. The date is also imperfect in the past. Ex. Eran las seis. Era la una. Era el 2 de abril.
Origin is what something is made of or where it originates from. Nationality, race and religion are also imperfect. Ex. Era de lana. Ella era latina.
Age is always imperfect. Like time, age never stops progressing forward. Your age in the past was a non permanent state, which has no “certain ending”. Ex. Tenía dos años, cuando aprendí montar en triciclo. Emotion is imperfect in that it is impossible to pin point the exact beginning and or ending of the feeling or emotional state. Ex. Tenía miedo, cuando me robaron.
Mental processes in themselves are usually non removeable or difficult to determine start or finish. You could STILL! Ex. Sabía mucho, porque sacó muchas notas buenas en escuela secundaria.