THE IMPERFECT TENSE:REGULAR-IRREGULAR VERBS

Avancemos 2 – Unidad 4

Preterite

You have already learned to talk about the past using the preterite tense for actions that began and ended at a definite time.

Preterite

Ana cantó en la fiesta anoche.

Ana sang at the party last night.

(Completed past action.)

Imperfect

The imperfect tense is another way to talk about the past. We use it to describe actions without any indication of their beginning or end.

Imperfect

Ana cantaba.Ana was singing.(No indication of beginning or end.)

ImperfectWe use the imperfect to talk about actions that happened repeatedly in the past. In English we often say “used to” or “would” to express this idea.

Imperfect

Generalmente caminaban mucho.

Generally they would walk a lot.

Imperfect

Jugaban con otros niños de la familia.

They used to play with other children in the family.

Imperfect

Expressions such as generalmente, a menudo, muchas veces, todos los días, siempre, and nunca can cue us to use the imperfect.

Imperfect

Here are all the forms of -ar verbs in the imperfect. Notice the accent mark on the nosotros form.

CAMINAR (to walk)

Yo caminaba

Tú caminabas

ÉlElla

caminabaUd.

Nos. caminábamos

Vos. caminabais

EllosEllas caminabanUds.

Since the yo and the Ud./él/ella forms are the same, we often use the subject pronouns to avoid confusion.

Imperfect

Imperfect

Let’s do a few more verbs.

PATINAR (to skate)

Yo patinaba

Tú patinabas

ÉlElla patinabaUd.

Nos. patinábamos

Vos. patinabais

EllosEllas patinabanUds.

USAR (to use)

Yo usaba

Tú usabas

ÉlElla usabaUd.

Nos. usábamos

Vos. usabais

EllosEllas usabanUds.

JUGAR (to play)

Yo jugaba

Tú jugabas

ÉlElla jugabaUd.

Nos. jugábamos

Vos. jugabais

EllosEllas jugabanUds.

Imperfect

Now we will learn the -er/-ir verb endings in the imperfect tense.

COMER (to eat)

Yo comía

Tú comías

ÉlElla comíaUd.

Nos. comíamos

Vos. comáis

EllosEllas comíanUds.

VIVIR (to live)

Yo vivía

Tú vivías

ÉlElla vivíaUd.

Nos. vivíamos

Vos. viváis

EllosEllas vivíanUds.

The Imperfect

There are three irregular verbs in the imperfect. The verbs IR, SER, and VER.

IR

iba

ibas

iba

íbamos

ibais

iban

SER

era

eras

era

éramos

erais

eran

VER

veía

veías

veía

veíamos

veíais

veían

The ImperfectThe imperfect form of hay is había (there was/were, there used to be)

Generalmente, no había muchos participantes en el campeonato.