IMPERFECT TENSE
Formation of –AR, -ER, and –IR Verb Groups in the Imperfect Tense:
-ar imperfect endings nadar=to swim
1)-aba 1) –ábamos 1) Yo nadaba 1) Nosotros(as) nadábamos
2 -abas 2) xxxxxxx 2) Tú nadabas 2) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3)-aba 3) –aban 3) Él } 3) Ellos }
Ella} nadaba Ellas } nadaban
Ud. } Uds. }
-er imperfect endings comer=to eat
1 -ía 1)-íamos 1) Yo comía 1) Nosotros(as) comíamos
2)-ías 2) xxxxx 2) Tú comías 2) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3)-ía 3)-ían 3) Él } 3) Ellos }
Ella } comía Ellas } comían
Ud. } Uds. }
-ir imperfect endings sufrir=to suffer
1 -ía 1)-íamos 1) Yo sufría 1) Nosotros(as) sufríamos
2)-ías 2) xxxxx 2) Tú sufrías 2) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3)-ía 3)-ían 3) Él } 3) Ellos }
Ella } sufría Ellas } sufrían
Ud. } Uds. }
The Imperfect Tense is a PAST TENSE. That means that when we hear or think of certain English words or phrases that indicate that the action we speak of is in the past, we should choose to use in Spanish either the Preterite or the Imperfect Tense.
English phrasings that usually indicate Imperfect Tense are:
1) the simple past as in, “I swam.”
2) the use of “used to” with the English present tense, as “I used to swim.”
3) the use of “was/were” with the English present participle, as “I was swimming” or “We were swimming.”
Remember: The use of the Imperfect indicates actions completed in the past, but refers to those past actions that continued for extended periods of time, in other words, ongoing past actions!
* Oral repetition of each imperfect verb conjugation helps greatly in becoming comfortable in using these forms in conversation. It's a great starting place!
GREAT NEWS!! ONLY 3 IRREGULARS IN THE IMPERFECT TENSE!!!!!
MEMORIZE THEM!!!!!!
ir=went, was/were going, used to go
1) iba 1) íbamos
2) ibas 2)XXXXX
3) iba 3) iban
ser=was/were, used to be
1) era 1) éramos
2) eras 2) XXXXX
3) era 3) eran
ver=saw, was/were seeing, used to see
1) veía 1) veíamos
2) veías 2)XXXXXX
3) veía 3) veían