Imperfect Tense
Expresses what someone used to do (habits) IMPERFECT TENSE A past tense Expresses what someone used to do (habits) Expresses was/were doing (ongoing past action)
Formation of Regular –AR verbs IMPERFECT TENSE Formation of Regular –AR verbs HABLAR hablaba hablábamos hablabas hablaban
Formation of Regular –ER verbs IMPERFECT TENSE Formation of Regular –ER verbs COMER comía comíamos comías comían
Formation of Regular –IR verbs IMPERFECT TENSE Formation of Regular –IR verbs VIVIR vivía vivíamos vivías vivían
IMPERFECT TENSE Did you notice? -ER and –IR endings are identical The Yo and él/ella/Ud. Forms share the same ending in each category
IMPERFECT TENSE There are only 3 irregular verbs in the Imperfect Tense. There are NO stem or spelling change verbs. Yay!
IMPERFECT TENSE: Irregulars SER IR VER era éramos iba íbamos veía veíamos eras ibas veías eran iban veían
IMPERFECT TENSE Specific uses Habitual past actions (used to do) Ongoing/unfinished past actions (was doing/were doing) Weather Descriptions Age Time (hour on the clock) General (non-specific) time periods Mental/Physical sensations
IMPERFECT TENSE Habitual Past Actions Used to do Ejemplo: Cuando ella era niña, visitaba a su abuela los domingos. When she was a little girl, she used to visit her grandmother on Sundays.
IMPERFECT TENSE Ongoing Past Actions Was doing/were doing Ej: Mariana comía durante su programa favorito, Jeopardy! Mariana was eating during her favorite program, Jeopardy!
IMPERFECT TENSE Weather Hacía frío y viento durante la tormenta de nieve. It was cold and windy during the snowstorm.
IMPERFECT TENSE Descriptions Carlos era un hombre guapo que tenía pelo negro y ojos verdes. Carlos was a handsome man who used to have black hair and green eyes.
IMPERFECT TENSE Age ¿Cuántos años tenías en 2005? Yo tenía quince años. How old were you in 2005? I was 15 years old.
IMPERFECT TENSE Time (on the clock) Eran las siete y media al principio de la clase. It was 7:30 at the beginning of class.
IMPERFECT TENSE General (non-specific) Time Periods mucho muchas veces a veces A menudo Frecuentemente/con frecuencia Generalmente/usualmente Durante Mientras Cada____________(año, día, semana, etc).
IMPERFECT TENSE Mental & Physical Sensations SABER CONOCER TENER (sed/hambre, frío/calor, sueño) PENSAR SENTIRSE CREER ESTAR GUSTAR DOLER (o:ue) ESPERAR QUERER DESEAR NECESITAR