Conjugation of Irregular -ar Verbs in the Imperfect Tense

In the Spanish language, the imperfect tense is a valuable tool for describing ongoing or repeated actions in the past, setting the scene, or providing background information. While regular -ar verbs follow a predictable conjugation pattern, there are several irregular -ar verbs that require special attention. In this article, we will explore the conjugation of irregular -ar verbs in the imperfect tense.

Irregular -ar verbs in the imperfect tense do not follow the standard -ar verb endings. Instead, they have their own unique conjugation forms. Let’s take a closer look at some commonly used irregular -ar verbs and their conjugations in the imperfect tense:

1. Ser (to be):
   • Yo era (I was).
   • Tú eras (You were).
   • Él/Ella/Usted era (He/She/You were).
   • Nosotros/Nosotras éramos (We were).
   • Vosotros/Vosotras erais (You all were).
   • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes eran (They/You all were).
2. Ir (to go):
   • Yo iba (I used to go, I was going).
   • Tú ibas (You used to go, You were going).
   • Él/Ella/Usted iba (He/She/You used to go, He/She was going).
   • Nosotros/Nosotras íbamos (We used to go, We were going).
   • Vosotros/Vosotras ibais (You all used to go, You all were going).
   • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes iban (They/You all used to go, They/You all were going).
3. Ver (to see):
   • Yo veía (I used to see, I was seeing).
   • Tú veías (You used to see, You were seeing).
   • Él/Ella/Usted veía (He/She/You used to see, He/She was seeing).
   • Nosotros/Nosotras veíamos (We used to see, We were seeing).
   • Vosotros/Vosotras veíais (You all used to see, You all were seeing).
   • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes veían (They/You all used to see, They/You all were seeing).
4. Hacer (to do/make):
   • Yo hacía (I used to do/make, I was doing/making).
   • Tú hacías (You used to do/make, You were doing/making).
   • Él/Ella/Usted hacía (He/She/You used to do/make, He/She was doing/making).
   • Nosotros/Nosotras hacíamos (We used to do/make, We were doing/making).
   • Vosotros/Vosotras hacíais (You all used to do/make, You all were doing/making).
   • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hacían (They/You all used to do/make, They/You all were doing/making).

These irregular -ar verbs demonstrate that their conjugation in the imperfect tense is unique and doesn’t follow the regular -ar verb endings. It is important to remember and practice these specific conjugation forms to accurately express past actions and situations.

By familiarizing yourself with the conjugation of irregular -ar verbs in the imperfect tense, you can enhance your ability to communicate effectively and add depth to your Spanish conversations. Practice regularly and pay attention to these irregularities, and soon you will gain confidence in conjugating irregular -ar verbs in the imperfect tense.

Check out our series of Complete Spanish Grammar articles – everything you’ll ever need to know about Spanish grammar.

Or, learn more about LingoToGo here.

(One Week Free only available to students in the Americas and Europe. If you’re outside these regions, check out our offers here.)