Imperfect+Tense

Imperfect Tense by Cristobal! = Use Imperfect Tense For: =

There are some tricks you can use- you can usually tell whether or not to use imperfect with these phrases: Cuando (when), mientras (while), de vez en cuando (occasionally), a veces (sometimes), Cuando era joven (when I was younger), De niño (as a kid).
 * Things you did habitually in the past (Yo siempre....)
 * When telling a story, the background information (El viernes pasado estaba aburrido)
 * Feelings in the past (Estábamos bien)
 * A past action viewed as being in progress (Mirábamos televisión/ We were watching TV)
 * Time, date, weather, age (Yo tenía 5 años)
 * Describing what a situation was like
 * Mental states in past time (I didn't know it / No lo sabía)
 * Interrupted action

For Vosotros: Ar- abais Er- íais Ser- erais Ir- Ibais Ver- veíais

To practice your skills take this quiz- []
 * And lastly, if nothing else could help1368033644~**
 * By Cristobal (above)**
 * By: Gupta Baiswala**

= The Imperfect Tense =


 * The imperfect tense is used to refer to actions that happened repeatedly in the past. As well, it can be used for a generalized description, habitual and repetitive actions in the past, and actions not confined to the past. Some other reasons for using the imperfect tense include: time, age, condition, and no definite beginning or end.


 * The “ar” verb endings for the imperfect tense: aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban. Notice that there is only an accent on the “a” in the nosotros form when conjugating “ar” verbs into the imperfect tense.


 * The “er” and “ir” verb endings for the imperfect tense: ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían.

Notice that both the "er" and "ir" verb endings are the same.


 * The following are expressions that hint the use of imperfect tense because they imply something that happened in the past: generalmente, por lo general, a menudo, muchas veces, de vez un cuando, todos los dáas, nunca.


 * There are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense: ir, ver, and ser.


 * Conjugation for “ir” in the imperfect tense: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, ibais, iban.


 * Conjugation for “ver” in the imperfect tense: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veíamos, veían. Notice the “ir” imperfect verb endings apply, but with the letters “ve” in front of them.


 * Conjugation for “ser” in the imperfect tense: era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran.


 * Notice that there is only an accent on the nosotros form for “ir” and “ser” in the imperfect tense.


 * Ex: Kevin comía curry y él jugaba beisbol. Kevin used to eat curry and used to play baseball.
 * Ex: Todos los veranos, yo iba a la playa. Every summer, I used to go to the beach.
 * Ex: Era cinco años cuando rompé mi brazo. I was five years old when I broke my arm.
 * Ex: De niño, veía muchas películas. As a child, I used to see lots of movies.

Practice Problems:
1. What are the "ar", "er", and "ir" verb endings for the imperfect tense? 2. What are the only three irregular verbs for the imperfect tense? 3. Conjugate the verb "beber" in the vosotros form in the imperfect tense. 4. Translate the following: Kevin volaba cuando un niño. 5. Translate the following: Cuando él era un niño, príncipe Alibaba era un campesino (peasant).

= Answers: = 1. The "ar" verb endings for the imperfect tense: aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban. 2. The "er" and "ir" verb endings for the imperfect tense: ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían 3. Bebíais. 4. Kevin used to fly when he was a child. 5. When he was a child, prince Alibaba was a peasant.

Practice Websites: [] []

=THE IMPERFECT TENSE=

__ When is the Imperfect Tense used? __
~ ongoing actions, actions in progress (was, were) ~ repeated actions (used to) ~ actions with no beginning or end ~ time ~ date ~ age ~ season ~ feelings ~ condtion ~ interrupted action/ background action (cuando/mientras)

** AR: ER: **

 * -aba -ábamos -ía -íamos **
 * -abas -abais -ías -íais **
 * -aba -aban -ía -ían **

**Ser: Ir: Ver:**
era éramos iba íbamos veía veíamos eras erais ibas ibais veías veíais era eran iba iban veía veían