The Imperfect Tense:The Imperfect Tense:Other UsesOther Uses

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Realidades 2

Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses

You already know how to use the imperfect tense together with the preterite to describe a situation that existed when something else happened.

Nadie estaba en la casa cuando los bomberos entraron.

Preterite Tense: Other UsesPreterite Tense: Other Uses

The preterite tense may also be used:

When something occurred El huracán llegó a la costa de

Honduras.

Preterite Tense: Other UsesPreterite Tense: Other Uses

The preterite tense may also be used:

For actions completed in the past

El edificio se quemó ayer.

Preterite Tense: Other UsesPreterite Tense: Other Uses

The preterite tense may also be used:

To talk about an eventEl concierto fue ayer.

Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses

The imperfect tense may also be used:

To tell what day or time it wasEran las cinco de la mañana.

Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses

The imperfect tense may also be used:

To tell what day or time it wasEran las cinco de la mañana y

llovía mucho cuando el accidente occurió.

Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses

The imperfect tense may also be used:

To tell what the weather was like.

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

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.

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—to be (triste, contento, cansado) Parecer—to seem (cansado, mal) Pensar—to think Querer—to want Saber—to know Sentirse—to feel (bien, enfermo) Tener—to have (calor, frío, hambre, sed,

sueño)