The Imperfect Tense: Other Uses Realidades 2
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses You already know how to use the imperfect tense together with the preterite to describe a situation that existed when something else happened. Nadie estaba en la casa cuando los bomberos entraron.
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses The imperfect tense may also be used: To tell what time it was or what the weather was like when something happened. Eran las cinco de la mañana y llovía mucho cuando el accidente occurió.
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses To describe the physical, mental, and emotional states of a person or thing when something happened. Muchas personas querían ayudar a la familia, pero no sabían que hacer.
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses These verbs are often used in the imperfect to describe states of being:
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses Estar (triste, contento, cansado) Parecer (cansado, mal) Pensar Querer Sentirse (bien, enfermo) Tener (calor, frío, hambre, sed, sueño)
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses Había and hubo are forms of haber and both mean “there was, there were.” Había is used to describe a situation that existed in the past, while hubo is used to say that an event took place.
Imperfect Tense: Other Uses Había mucho humo en el apartamento. Hubo un terremoto ayer a las seis de la mañana.