- 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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VerbsElementary
Imperfect Tense
Ongoing & Habitual Past Actions - Regular & Irregular Verbs
What You'll Learn
Overview
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.
Ongoing Past Actions - Like a Video Camera
English
"I was walking to school"
(ongoing past action)
Spanish
Caminaba a la escuela(imperfect)
The imperfect is used for descriptions of the past, habitual actions, ongoing states, and to set the scene for other past events.
Good News! Only 3 Irregular Verbs
Unlike other Spanish tenses with many irregulars, the imperfect has only three irregular verbs: ser, ir, and ver. Everything else follows the regular patterns!
Time Markers That Signal Imperfect
These expressions typically indicate habitual or ongoing past actions:
siempretodos los díascada semanamientrasde niño/aen aquella épocageneralmentea menudonuncaa veces
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- + endings
Endings: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban
-ER/-IR Verbs (Same Endings!)
comer → com-, vivir → viv-
Endings: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
Key Pattern Points
- -ER and -IR verbs share the same imperfect endings (just like in preterite!)
- Accent marks on -ER/-IR forms: All forms need accents on the í
- No stem changes: Imperfect uses the infinitive stem throughout
- Very few irregular verbs: Only ser, ir, and ver are irregular
Complete Imperfect Conjugation Tables
hablar (to speak) - AR verb
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaba | I was speaking |
| tú | hablabas | you were speaking |
| él/ella | hablaba | he/she was speaking |
| nosotros | hablábamos | we were speaking |
| vosotros | hablabais | you all were speaking |
| ellos | hablaban | they were speaking |
comer (to eat) - ER verb
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | comía | I was eating |
| tú | comías | you were eating |
| él/ella | comía | he/she was eating |
| nosotros | comíamos | we were eating |
| vosotros | comíais | you all were eating |
| ellos | comían | they were eating |
vivir (to live) - IR verb
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | vivía | I was living |
| tú | vivías | you were living |
| él/ella | vivía | he/she was living |
| nosotros | vivíamos | we were living |
| vosotros | vivíais | you all were living |
| ellos | vivían | they were living |
hablar (to speak) - AR verb
yohablabaI was speaking
túhablabasyou were speaking
él/ellahablabahe/she was speaking
nosotroshablábamoswe were speaking
vosotroshablabaisyou all were speaking
elloshablabanthey were speaking
comer (to eat) - ER verb
yocomíaI was eating
túcomíasyou were eating
él/ellacomíahe/she was eating
nosotroscomíamoswe were eating
vosotroscomíaisyou all were eating
elloscomíanthey were eating
vivir (to live) - IR verb
yovivíaI was living
túvivíasyou were living
él/ellavivíahe/she was living
nosotrosvivíamoswe were living
vosotrosvivíaisyou all were living
ellosvivíanthey were living
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)
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | era | I was/used to be |
| tú | eras | you were/used to be |
| él/ella | era | he/she was/used to be |
| nosotros | éramos | we were/used to be |
| vosotros | erais | you all were/used to be |
| ellos | eran | they were/used to be |
ir (to go)
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | iba | I was going/used to go |
| tú | ibas | you were going/used to go |
| él/ella | iba | he/she was going/used to go |
| nosotros | íbamos | we were going/used to go |
| vosotros | ibais | you all were going/used to go |
| ellos | iban | they were going/used to go |
ver (to see)
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | veía | I was seeing/used to see |
| tú | veías | you were seeing/used to see |
| él/ella | veía | he/she was seeing/used to see |
| nosotros | veíamos | we were seeing/used to see |
| vosotros | veíais | you all were seeing/used to see |
| ellos | veían | they were seeing/used to see |
ser (to be)
yoeraI was/used to be
túerasyou were/used to be
él/ellaerahe/she was/used to be
nosotroséramoswe were/used to be
vosotroseraisyou all were/used to be
elloseranthey were/used to be
ir (to go)
yoibaI was going
túibasyou were going
él/ellaibahe/she was going
nosotrosíbamoswe were going
vosotrosibaisyou all were going
ellosibanthey were going
ver (to see)
yoveíaI was seeing
túveíasyou were seeing
él/ellaveíahe/she was seeing
nosotrosveíamoswe were seeing
vosotrosveíaisyou all were seeing
ellosveíanthey were seeing
Iba a + Infinitive = "Was Going To"
The imperfect of ir + a + infinitive expresses what someone was going to do. This is very common for talking about plans or intentions in the past:
Iba a llamarte, pero se me olvidó.
I was going to call you, but I forgot.
Íbamos a salir cuando empezó a llover.
We were going to go out when it started to rain.
¿Ibas a decir algo?
Were you going to say something?
Iban a comprar una casa nueva.
They were going to buy a new house.
Past Progressive: Estaba + Gerund
An alternative to the imperfect for emphasising an action in progress at a specific moment. Use estaba (imperfect of estar) + the gerund (-ando/-iendo):
Imperfect
Yo leía un libro.
I was reading a book.
Past Progressive
Yo estaba leyendo un libro.
I was reading a book. (emphasises "in progress")
Both forms are correct. The past progressive sounds more emphatic and is closer to the English "-ing" form.
Examples
Habitual Past Actions
Used to
Cuando era niño, jugaba mucho
When I was a child, I used to play a lot
Always
Siempre comía a las dos
I always used to eat at two
Routine
Todos los días estudiaba
Every day I used to study
Weekly
Los domingos íbamos al parque
On Sundays we used to go to the park
Ability
Mi abuela cocinaba muy bien
My grandmother used to cook very well
Childhood
De pequeño, veía dibujos animados
As a child, I used to watch cartoons
Ongoing Past Actions
While
Mientras estudiaba, sonó el teléfono
While I was studying, the phone rang
Weather
Llovía cuando salí
It was raining when I left
Sleeping
Dormía cuando llegaste
I was sleeping when you arrived
Question
¿Qué hacías a las tres?
What were you doing at three?
Activity
Trabajaba en casa ese día
I was working at home that day
Scene
Los niños jugaban en el jardín
The children were playing in the garden
Common Time Expressions
todos los días
every day
Comía todos los días a las dos
siempre
always
Siempre llegaba temprano
mientras
while
Mientras leía, escuchaba música
de niño/a
as a child
De niña tenía muchos amigos
en aquella época
in those days
En aquella época vivíamos en Madrid
cada verano
every summer
Cada verano íbamos a la playa
Common Mistakes
Confusing Imperfect with Preterite
Use imperfect for ongoing/habitual actions, preterite for completed actions:
Preterite (completed):
Ayer comí pizzaYesterday I ate pizza (once)
Imperfect (habitual):
Siempre comía pizzaI always used to eat pizza
Forgetting Accent Marks
-ER/-IR verbs need accents on all forms to maintain correct pronunciation:
comíacomíascomíacomíamoscomíaiscomían
Only Three Irregular Verbs!
Unlike other tenses, the imperfect only has three irregular verbs. Don't make other verbs irregular:
ser
era
ir
iba
ver
veía
Quick Test
Test your understanding of the 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.