- Conjugate regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs in the imperfect tense
- Learn the 3 irregular imperfect verbs: ser, ir, and ver
- Use imperfect for habitual actions ("used to" / "would")
- Describe ongoing past actions ("was/were -ing")
- Express past descriptions and states of being
- Understand when to use imperfect vs preterite
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Imperfect Tense: Regular and Irregular
What You'll Learn
Overview / Usage
The imperfect tense describes ongoing, habitual, or repeated actions in the past. Unlike the preterite which focuses on completed actions, the imperfect paints a picture of how things "used to be" or what "was happening" in the past.
⏰ Imperfect: Ongoing Past Actions
The imperfect is like a video camera showing ongoing scenes from the past, while the preterite is like a photograph capturing completed moments.
English Examples:
"I was walking to school"
"She used to study every day"
"They were living in Madrid"
"I was walking to school"
"She used to study every day"
"They were living in Madrid"
Spanish Examples:
"Caminaba a la escuela"
"Estudiaba todos los días"
"Vivían en Madrid"
"Caminaba a la escuela"
"Estudiaba todos los días"
"Vivían en Madrid"
The imperfect is used for descriptions of the past, habitual actions, ongoing states, and to set the scene for other past events.
Structure & Formation
📋 Regular Imperfect Conjugation Patterns
The imperfect tense has very regular patterns and fewer irregular verbs than most other tenses. The endings are consistent and predictable, making it one of the easier Spanish tenses to master.
-AR Verbs
hablar → habl-
Add: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban
Add: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban
-ER/-IR Verbs
comer/vivir → com-/viv-
Add: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
Add: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
🔑 Key Pattern Points:
- -ER and -IR verbs share the same imperfect endings (just like in the preterite!)
- Accent marks on -ER/-IR forms: All forms except nosotros need accents
- No stem changes: Imperfect uses the infinitive stem throughout
- Very few irregular verbs: Only ser, ir, and ver are irregular
📊 Complete Imperfect Conjugation Tables
-AR Verbs: hablar (to speak)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo hablaba I was speaking / used to speak | nosotros hablábamos we were speaking / used to speak |
tú hablabas you were speaking / used to speak | vosotros hablabais you all were speaking / used to speak |
él/ella hablaba he/she was speaking / used to speak | ellos/ellas hablaban they were speaking / used to speak |
-ER Verbs: comer (to eat)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo comía I was eating / used to eat | nosotros comíamos we were eating / used to eat |
tú comías you were eating / used to eat | vosotros comíais you all were eating / used to eat |
él/ella comía he/she was eating / used to eat | ellos/ellas comían they were eating / used to eat |
-IR Verbs: vivir (to live)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo vivía I was living / used to live | nosotros vivíamos we were living / used to live |
tú vivías you were living / used to live | vosotros vivíais you all were living / used to live |
él/ella vivía he/she was living / used to live | ellos/ellas vivían they were living / used to live |
🚨 Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect
Good news! The imperfect tense has only three irregular verbs. This makes it much easier to master than other Spanish tenses.
ser (to be)
era, eras, era
éramos, erais, eran
éramos, erais, eran
ir (to go)
iba, ibas, iba
íbamos, ibais, iban
íbamos, ibais, iban
ver (to see)
veía, veías, veía
veíamos, veíais, veían
veíamos, veíais, veían
📊 Irregular Imperfect Conjugation Tables
ser (to be)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo era I was / used to be | nosotros éramos we were / used to be |
tú eras you were / used to be | vosotros erais you all were / used to be |
él/ella era he/she was / used to be | ellos/ellas eran they were / used to be |
ir (to go)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo iba I was going / used to go | nosotros íbamos we were going / used to go |
tú ibas you were going / used to go | vosotros ibais you all were going / used to go |
él/ella iba he/she was going / used to go | ellos/ellas iban they were going / used to go |
ver (to see)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo veía I was seeing / used to see | nosotros veíamos we were seeing / used to see |
tú veías you were seeing / used to see | vosotros veíais you all were seeing / used to see |
él/ella veía he/she was seeing / used to see | ellos/ellas veían they were seeing / used to see |
Examples
🎯 When to Use the Imperfect Tense
The imperfect has several specific uses that help you paint detailed pictures of past situations and ongoing actions.
🔄 Habitual Past Actions
Cuando era niño
When I was a child
Siempre comía
I always used to eat
⏱️ Ongoing Past Actions
Mientras estudiaba
While I was studying
En aquella época
In those days
📚 Complete Story Example
Here's how the imperfect helps tell stories about the past:
Cuando vivía en Madrid
When I lived in Madrid
siempre desayunaba café
I always used to have coffee for breakfast
Íbamos al parque
We used to go to the park
todos los domingos
every Sunday
Mi abuela cocinaba
My grandmother used to cook
platos deliciosos
delicious dishes
⚡ Common Time Expressions with Imperfect
These phrases often signal that you should use the imperfect tense:
Todos los días
Every day
De pequeña
As a little girl
Gotchas / Common Mistakes
⚠️ Common Mistakes with Imperfect
- Confusing imperfect with preterite: Use imperfect for ongoing/habitual actions, preterite for completed actions
- Forgetting accent marks: -ER/-IR verbs need accents on all forms except nosotros (comía, comías, comía, comíamos, comíais, comían)
- Using wrong stem: Always use the infinitive stem, no stem changes in imperfect
- Irregular verb confusion: Only ser, ir, and ver are irregular - don't make other verbs irregular
Quick Test / Mini Quiz
📝 Interactive Imperfect Tense Quiz
Test your knowledge of Spanish imperfect tense - regular and irregular forms!
1
Complete the sentence: Cuando era niño, _____ mucho.
2
Choose the correct form: Nosotros _____ en Barcelona.
3
Which is irregular in the imperfect? The verb _____
4
Complete: Ellos _____ estudiantes muy buenos.
5
Select the imperfect form: Tú _____ al cine los sábados.
6
Which sentence shows the correct use of imperfect for description?
7
Complete: Mientras yo _____, mi hermana estudiaba.
8
Choose the correct imperfect form: Vosotros _____ la televisión cada noche.
Useful Resources
Coming soon...