the imperfect tense: usos imperfect tense: describing a situation the imperfect tense is also used:...
TRANSCRIPT
The Imperfect Tense:
Usos
Imperfect Tense: Describing a Situation
The imperfect tense is also used:To describe people, places, and
situations in the pastLa casa de mis abuelos era
enorme. Tenía cinco dormitorios.
Imperfect Tense: Describing a Situation
To talk about a past action or situation when no beginning or end is specified
Había mucha gente en la casa para el aniversario de mis abuelos.
Imperfect Tense: Describing a Situation
To describe the situation or background information when something else happened or interrupted the ongoing action.
Imperfect Tense: Describing a Situation
In these cases, the imperfect tense is used to tell what someone was doing when something happened (preterite.)
Imperfect Tense: Describing a Situation
Todos mis parientes bailaban cuando llegamos.
All my relatives were dancing when we arrived.
Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses
The imperfect tense may also be used:
To tell what time it was or what the weather was like when something happened.
Eran las cinco de la mañana y llovía mucho cuando el accidente occurió.
Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses
To describe the physical, mental, and emotional states of a person or thing when something happened.
Muchas personas querían ayudar a la familia, pero no sabían que hacer.
Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses
These verbs are often used in the imperfect to describe states of being:
Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses
Estar (triste, contento, cansado)Parecer (cansado, mal)PensarQuererSentirse (bien, enfermo)Tener (calor, frío, hambre, sed,
sueño)
Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses
Había and hubo are forms of haber and both mean “there was, there were.”
Había is used to describe a situation that existed in the past, while hubo is used to say that an event took place.
Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses
Había mucho humo en el apartamento.
Hubo un terremoto ayer a las seis de la mañana.