Introduction to the Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense (el pretérito imperfecto) is one of the most essential past tenses in Spanish. Unlike the preterite, which describes completed actions, the imperfect is used for:
✔ Ongoing or repeated past actions
✔ Background descriptions
✔ States of being in the past
✔ Habits and routines
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced Spanish learner, mastering the imperfect will help you tell stories, describe past routines, and set the scene in conversations.
✔ Imperfect Tense → Used for:
- Ongoing or repeated past actions (“I used to play soccer every day”)
- Background descriptions (“It was sunny and the birds were singing”)
- Habits and states of being (“When I was young, I was shy”)
✔ Preterite Tense → Used for:
- Completed actions (“I ate dinner at 8 PM”)
- Single events (“She called me yesterday”)
- Actions with a clear beginning/end (“We lived in Madrid for two years”)
Quick Comparison
| Imperfect | Preterite |
|---|---|
| “Caminaba por el parque cuando veía a mis amigos.” (I was walking in the park when I saw my friends.) → Background action | “Caminé por el parque y vi a mis amigos.” (I walked in the park and saw my friends.) → Completed action |
| “Siempre comíamos juntos.” (We always ate together.) → Habit | “Ayer comimos juntos.” (Yesterday, we ate together.) → One-time event |
Why does this matter? Many Spanish learners struggle with when to use each tense. The imperfect sets the scene, while the preterite moves the story forward.
🔗 Need practice?
- Take our Imperfect Tense Quiz to test your skills!
- Master conjugations with our Verb Conjugation Tool
When to Use the Imperfect Tense
1. Habitual or Repeated Actions in the Past
Describes actions that happened regularly in the past (often with phrases like siempre, todos los días, cada semana).
- Ejemplo: De niño, jugaba al fútbol con mis amigos después de la escuela.
(As a child, I used to play soccer with my friends after school.)
→ Explanation: The action was repeated over time. - Ejemplo: Mi abuela hacía galletas todos los domingos.
(My grandmother would make cookies every Sunday.)
→ Explanation: A recurring past habit.
2. Descriptions (People, Places, Weather, Emotions)
Sets the scene or background in the past.
- Ejemplo: El cielo estaba nublado y había mucho viento.
(The sky was cloudy, and there was a lot of wind.)
→ Explanation: Describing past weather conditions. - Ejemplo: Cuando era joven, era muy tímido.
(When I was young, I was very shy.)
→ Explanation: Describing a past state of being.
3. Ongoing Actions (Interrupted or in Progress)
Used for actions that were happening when another event occurred.
- Ejemplo: Mientras yo estudiaba, mi hermano escuchaba música.
(While I was studying, my brother was listening to music.)
→ Explanation: Two simultaneous past actions. - Ejemplo: Cuando entré, ella lloraba.
(When I walked in, she was crying.)
→ Explanation: An action in progress when another happened.
4. Telling Time & Age in the Past
- Ejemplo: Eran las ocho de la noche cuando llegamos.
(It was eight at night when we arrived.)
→ Explanation: Telling time in the past. - Ejemplo: Tenía quince años cuando aprendí a manejar.
(I was fifteen years old when I learned to drive.)
→ Explanation: Stating age in the past.
Imperfect Tense Conjugation Charts
Regular Verbs
| Pronoun | -AR Verbs (Hablar) | -ER Verbs (Comer) | -IR Verbs (Vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| Tú | hablabas | comías | vivías |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| Nosotros | hablábamos | comíamos | vivíamos |
| Vosotros | hablabais | comíais | vivíais |
| Ellos/Uds. | hablaban | comían | vivían |
Irregular Verbs (Only 3!)
| Verb | Yo | Tú | Él/Ella | Nosotros | Vosotros | Ellos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ser | era | eras | era | éramos | erais | eran |
| Ir | iba | ibas | iba | íbamos | ibais | iban |
| Ver | veía | veías | veía | veíamos | veíais | veían |
Example Sentences with Irregular Verbs:
- Antes, era maestro, pero ahora soy ingeniero.
(Before, I used to be a teacher, but now I’m an engineer.) - Nosotros íbamos a la playa cada verano.
(We used to go to the beach every summer.) - Ellos veían muchas películas de terror.
(They used to watch a lot of horror movies.)
Bonus: More Example Sentences
Habits & Routines
- Todos los días, desayunaba café con pan tostado.
(Every day, I would have coffee with toast for breakfast.)
Descriptions
- La casa era grande y tenía un jardín hermoso.
(The house was big and had a beautiful garden.)
Ongoing Actions
- Mientras caminábamos por el parque, veíamos los pájaros.
(While we were walking in the park, we were watching the birds.)
Emotions & States
- Me sentía feliz cuando estaba con mi familia.
(I felt happy when I was with my family.)
Practice Makes Perfect!
Now that you understand the imperfect tense, reinforce your learning with:
✅ Imperfect Tense Quiz – Test your knowledge!
✅ Verb Conjugation Tool – Master all Spanish tenses.
Keep practicing, and soon, using the imperfect tense will feel natural! 📚✨
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