Uses of the imperfect
Review uses of the imperfect Uses: Ongoing action in the past (Was ____ing) Repeated/Habitual actions in the past (Used to/Would ____) Description/Circumstances (Setting the stage) Time Date Weather Location Age Physical Description Emotional State Attitudes/Beliefs
Key words Siempre todos los días cada semana/mes/año/verano los sábados a menudo muchas veces generalmente mientras
T=thoughts or feelings (mental, emotional, physical states, The imperfect T-O-A-D- S-T-E-W T=thoughts or feelings (mental, emotional, physical states, attitudes, and beliefs) O=other past actions repeating more than once (used to/habitual) A=age D=descriptions of people, places, situations and the physical state of an object. S= setting or scene description (background information, such as the time, the weather, and the location) T=time/date E=existing continuous action or circumstance in the past with no reference to its beginning or end. (was/were + -ing form of verb. W=weather
Conjugation forms -AR -ER /-IR ía ías Íamos ían To conjugate verbs in the imperfect, simply drop the (-ar, -er, or –ir) ending and add the following: -AR -ER /-IR ía ías Íamos ían aba abas aba ábamos aban
Good news. There are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect Good news! There are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect. You must simply memorize them. ser ir ver era iba veía eras ibas veías éramos íbamos veíamos Eran iban veían
Íbamos al parque los domingos. (Habitual/ used to/ repeated action)
Era alto y moreno. Description of physical characteristics.
Quería mucho a su familia. (Thought/ feeling/emotion)
Eran las tres y media. Time-telling
Tenía cien años. Age
Eran las dos de la mañana y hacía mucho frío Eran las dos de la mañana y hacía mucho frío. El detective no podía mantenerse despierto. Setting or scene description (background information, such as the time, the weather, and the location)
La puerta estaba abierta. Description of the physical state of an object.