by The Spanish imperfect tense is a verb form used to describe actions or states that were ongoing, habitual, or in progress in the past. It is often used to express routines, habits, background information, and descriptions of past conditions. When translating sentences into Spanish, it is important to use the imperfect tense for actions that occurred repeatedly or over an extended period of time.
Routines and Habits
Let’s take a look at some examples:
1. I used to cook every weekend.
Yo cocinaba todos los fines de semana.
2. They were in the pool when it started to rain.
Ellos estaban en la piscina cuando empezó a llover.
3. When I lived in Mexico, I had a lot of friends and used to eat a lot of spicy food.
Cuando vivía en México, tenía muchos amigos y comía mucha comida picante.
The first set of examples demonstrates how the imperfect tense is used to describe routines and habits. In these sentences, the actions of cooking, being in the pool, and living in Mexico were ongoing or habitual in the past. The imperfect tense provides a sense of continuity or repetition.
An action in progress that was interrupted
In addition to routines and habits, the imperfect tense is also used to describe actions that were in progress when they were interrupted by another action. The word “when” (cuando) is often used to connect these two actions. The interrupting action is typically expressed in the preterite tense (simple past tense), while the ongoing action is in the imperfect tense.
For example:
1. They were in the pool when it started to rain.
Ellos estaban en la piscina cuando empezó a llover.
2. I was sleeping when my mom came into my room.
Yo dormía cuando mi madre entró a mi habitación.
3. Ana was cooking pasta when her brother finished his homework.
Ana cocinaba pasta cuando su hermano terminó la tarea.
Note how the imperfect tense is used to describe the ongoing actions of being in the pool, sleeping, and cooking pasta, while the preterite tense is used for the interrupting actions of raining, my mom entering the room, and the brother finishing homework.
Describing characteristics, conditions, and feelings
The imperfect tense is also employed to describe characteristics, conditions, and feelings in the past. It helps provide background information and set the scene for a particular time period.
For example:
1. Yesterday they were really tired.
Ayer ellos estaban muy cansados.
2. Juan was tall and skinny; he had long hair.
Juan era alto y delgado; tenía el cabello largo.
3. It was really hot in Miami, but we were okay.
Hacía mucho calor en Miami, pero estábamos bien.
In these sentences, the imperfect tense is used to describe the physical condition of being tired, the characteristics of being tall, skinny, and having long hair, and the environmental condition of being hot.
Dates and time
The imperfect tense is also used to talk about dates, times, ages, and periods of life in the past.
For example:
1. It was the 20th of July.
Era el 20 de julio.
2. The party was at 8 PM.
La fiesta era a las 8 PM.
3. When I was a child.
Cuando era niño.
4. The dog was 1 year old.
El perro tenía 1 año.
5. When I was 10 years old.
Cuando tenía 10 años.
Contrast Between Past and Present
Furthermore, the imperfect tense is used to express a contrast between the past and the present. It is employed to indicate a change in behavior, preferences, or conditions.
For example:
1. Before, I used to study until late, but now I study little.
Antes estudiaba hasta tarde, pero ahora estudio poco.
2. When I used to live in Chile, I cooked a lot, but now I don’t cook.
Cuando vivía en Chile, cocinaba mucho, pero ahora no cocino.
Simultaneous Actions and Events
Lastly, the imperfect tense is used to describe simultaneous actions or events in the past.
For example:
1. My family was getting the party ready while the neighbors were arriving.
Mi familia preparaba la fiesta mientras los vecinos llegaban.
2. I was drinking beer while my friends were dancing.
Yo tomaba cerveza mientras mis amigos bailaban.
Formation of the Imperfect Tense
To form the imperfect tense in Spanish, we take the stem of the infinitive verb and add the appropriate endings based on the subject pronouns. For regular verbs, the endings are relatively consistent across -ar, -er, and -ir verb groups.
Let’s examine the conjugation of regular verbs in the imperfect tense:
-AR Verbs
- Yo -aba
- Tú -abas
- Él/Ella/Usted -aba
- Nosotros/Nosotras -ábamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes -aban
Examples
Hablar (to speak)
- Yo hablaba
- Tú hablabas
- Él/Ella/Usted hablaba
- Nosotros/Nosotras hablábamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablaban
Example: Hablaba español con fluidez cuando vivía en España. (I used to speak Spanish fluently when I lived in Spain.)
Bailar (to dance)
- Yo bailaba
- Tú bailabas
- Él/Ella/Usted bailaba
- Nosotros/Nosotras bailábamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes bailaban
Example: Cada sábado por la noche, bailábamos en la discoteca. (Every Saturday night, we used to dance at the club.)
-ER and -IR Verbs
- Yo -ía Tú -ías
- Él/Ella/Usted -ía
- Nosotros/Nosotras -íamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes -ían
Examples
Comer (to eat)
- Yo comía
- Tú comías
- Él/Ella/Usted comía
- Nosotros/Nosotras comíamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comían
Example: De niño, comía helado todos los veranos. (As a child, I used to eat ice cream every summer.)
- Beber (to drink): Yo bebía Tú bebías Él/Ella/Usted bebía Nosotros/Nosotras bebíamos Vosotros/Vosotras bebíais Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes bebían
Example: Cuando era estudiante, bebía café para mantenerme despierto durante las noches de estudio. (When I was a student, I used to drink coffee to stay awake during study nights.)
Vivir (to live)
- Yo vivía
- Tú vivías
- Él/Ella/Usted vivía
- Nosotros/Nosotras vivíamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes vivían
Example: Durante mi infancia, vivía en un pequeño pueblo en las montañas. (During my childhood, I used to live in a small town in the mountains.)
Abrir (to open)
- Yo abría
- Tú abrías
- Él/Ella/Usted abría
- Nosotros/Nosotras abríamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes abrían
Example: Cada mañana, abríamos las cortinas para dejar entrar la luz del sol. (Every morning, we used to open the curtains to let in the sunlight.)
Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect Tense
While regular verbs follow a predictable pattern, irregular verbs in the imperfect tense have unique conjugations that need to be memorized. Let’s explore some common irregular verbs and their conjugations in the imperfect tense:
Ser (to be)
- Yo era
- Tú eras
- Él/Ella/Usted era
- Nosotros/Nosotras éramos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes eran
Example: Cuando era joven, siempre era muy tímido. (When I was young, I was always very shy.)
Ir (to go)
- Yo iba
- Tú ibas
- Él/Ella/Usted iba
- Nosotros/Nosotras íbamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes iban
Example: Cada verano, íbamos a la playa en familia. (Every summer, we used to go to the beach as a family.)
Ver (to see)
- Yo veía
- Tú veías
- Él/Ella/Usted veía
- Nosotros/Nosotras
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes veían
Example: Cuando era niño, veía películas de dibujos animados todos los sábados. (When I was a child, I used to watch cartoons every Saturday.)
Hacer (to do/make)
- Yo hacía Tú hacías
- Él/Ella/Usted hacía
- Nosotros/Nosotras hacíamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hacían
Example: Cada día, hacíamos ejercicio juntos en el parque. (Every day, we used to exercise together in the park.)
Summary
The Spanish imperfect tense serves as a gateway to the past, allowing us to describe ongoing actions, habitual activities, and states of being. By understanding its formation, usage, and conjugation, along with common irregular verbs, learners can effectively communicate, express historical events, share personal narratives, and grasp the intricacies of Spanish culture. Embracing the imperfect tense opens a world of possibilities for language learners, enhancing their ability to engage with the richness of the Spanish-speaking world’s heritage.
