DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto)
← Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub
→ Want to practice first? Try our Imperfect Tense Quiz!
Key Takeaways
- Learn -AR, -ER, -IR verb endings for the imperfect tense with easy charts
- Master the three key irregular verbs: Ser, Ir, and Ver
- Understand when to use the imperfect with DELE-focused examples
- Practice with our targeted quiz for exam success
Welcome to your complete guide to the Spanish Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto), a crucial past tense for the DELE A2 exam. Unlike the preterite, the imperfect describes ongoing or repeated past actions. Mastering this tense is essential for describing scenes, habits, and background information in the speaking and writing sections.
What is the Imperfect Tense in Spanish?
For the DELE A2 level, the imperfect tense describes past actions without a specific beginning or end. It’s used for descriptions, habits, and ongoing actions in the past.
When to Use the Imperfect:
- Habitual Actions: Actions that used to happen repeatedly
- *”Cuando era niño, *jugaba al fútbol todos los días.” (When I was a child, I used to play soccer every day.)
- Descriptions: Describing people, places, or situations in the past
- *”El día *era soleado y las nubes *pasaban lentamente.” (The day was sunny and clouds were passing slowly.)
- Time and Age: Telling time or stating someone’s age in the past
- “**Eran las tres de la tarde.” (It was three in the afternoon.)
- “**Tenía veinte años cuando viajé a España.” (I was twenty years old when I traveled to Spain.)
- Ongoing Actions: Actions in progress interrupted by another action
- “**Caminaba por la calle cuando *vi a mi amigo.” (I was walking down the street when I saw my friend.)
Spanish Imperfect Tense Conjugation Charts: Regular Verbs
Here are the complete conjugation tables for regular verbs in the imperfect tense.
1. -AR Verb Endings (Example: Hablar – To Speak)
| Subject Pronoun | Ending | Conjugation (Hablar) |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | -aba | hablaba |
| Tú | -abas | hablabas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -aba | hablaba |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | -ábamos | hablábamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | -abais | hablabais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | -aban | hablaban |
2. -ER and -IR Verb Endings (Example: Comer – To Eat / Vivir – To Live)
| Subject Pronoun | Ending | Conjugation (Comer) | Conjugation (Vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | -ía | comía | vivía |
| Tú | -ías | comías | vivías |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -ía | comía | vivía |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | -íamos | comíamos | vivíamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | -íais | comíais | vivíais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | -ían | comían | vivían |
DELE A2 Tip: The imperfect is one of the easiest tenses to learn because there are only three irregular verbs!
Essential Irregular Verbs for DELE A2
Memorize these three irregular verbs – they’re essential for the exam.
| Verb (English) | Yo | Tú | Él/Ella/Usted | Nosotros | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ser (to be) | era | eras | era | éramos | eran |
| Ir (to go) | iba | ibas | iba | íbamos | iban |
| Ver (to see) | veía | veías | veía | veíamos | veían |
DELE A2 Tip: Notice that “ver” is regular in the imperfect, despite being irregular in many other tenses. The endings follow the -ER verb pattern!
Common DELE A2 Imperfect Verbs & Examples
Here are example sentences you can use in the DELE A2 speaking or writing section.
Regular Verbs:
- Jugar (to play): *“Jugábamos en el parque cada tarde.” (We used to play in the park every afternoon.)
- Comer (to eat): *“Comía fruta todos los días.” (I used to eat fruit every day.)
- Vivir (to live): *“Vivían en una casa pequeña.” (They used to live in a small house.)
Irregular Verbs:
- Ser (to be): **”Mi abuelo *era muy inteligente.” (My grandfather was very intelligent.)
- Ir (to go): “Íbamos* a la playa todos los veranos.” (We used to go to the beach every summer.)
Practice with Our Free Spanish Conjugation Tool
Reinforce your learning by practicing with our interactive tool.
Click here to open our Spanish Conjugation Tool and practice!
Select “Imperfect Tense” to see conjugations for any verb.
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to check your understanding of the imperfect tense?
Take our DELE A2 Imperfect Tense Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?
- Ready to compare past tenses? Study DELE A2 Preterite vs. Imperfect next
- Need to practice regular verbs? Review DELE A2 Present Tense
- Want more vocabulary? Learn DELE A2 Daily Routine Vocabulary
- Practice all A2 topics? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub
Good luck with your DELE A2 preparation!
