The Three Stem-Changing Verbs in the Spanish Imperfect Tense: A quick and easy introduction.

While the Spanish imperfect tense largely follows consistent conjugation patterns, there are three exceptions to the rule: “ir” (to go), “ser” (to be), and “ver” (to see). These three verbs undergo unique conjugation changes in the imperfect tense, setting them apart from both regular and stem-changing verbs.

Ir (to go)

The verb “ir,” which means “to go,” is one of the most commonly used verbs in the Spanish language. However, it’s also one of the most irregular, as it does not follow the conventional conjugation patterns.

In the imperfect tense, the verb “ir” is conjugated as follows:

• yo: iba
• tú: ibas
• él/ella/usted: iba
• nosotros/nosotras: íbamos
• vosotros/vosotras: ibais
• ellos/ellas/ustedes: iban

Ser (to be)

Another crucial verb in Spanish is “ser,” which means “to be.” In its imperfect form, “ser” also diverges from standard conjugation rules.

The imperfect tense conjugation of “ser” is as follows:

• yo: era
• tú: eras
• él/ella/usted: era
• nosotros/nosotras: éramos
• vosotros/vosotras: erais
• ellos/ellas/ustedes: eran

Ver (to see)

Lastly, the verb “ver” (to see) is another important exception in the Spanish imperfect tense. While it follows a pattern more similar to regular -er verbs, it drops the typical accent marks found in the first and third person singular, and third person plural forms.

The conjugation of “ver” in the imperfect tense is as follows:

• yo: veía
• tú: veías
• él/ella/usted: veía
• nosotros/nosotras: veíamos
• vosotros/vosotras: veíais
• ellos/ellas/ustedes: veían

In conclusion, while the Spanish imperfect tense typically follows a regular pattern, these three verbs – ir, ser, and ver – stand as the key exceptions. Memorizing their unique conjugations in the imperfect tense is crucial for achieving fluency and accuracy in Spanish. In language learning, understanding the exceptions is just as important as mastering the rules. Keep practicing, and remember, “la práctica hace al maestro.”

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

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