The imperfect tense is one of two simple past tenses in Spanish, alongside the preterite. It does not have a fixed endpoint and often translates to “used to,” “was ...ing,” or “would” in English.
Regular Endings
- -ar verbs: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban
- -er and -ir verbs: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
Stem Usage
The stem is the infinitive form without the ending (-ar, -er, -ir). Then add the appropriate imperfect ending.
- hablar* → habl-
- comer* → com-
- vivir* → viv-
What is the correct stem for the verb 'vivir' in the imperfect tense?
viv-
For 'vivir,' the stem is formed by removing '-ir,' leaving 'viv-'. This stem is used for all imperfect conjugations of 'vivir.'
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Cuando era niña, siempre jugaba en el parque. | When I was a child, I always played in the park. |
| ¿Qué comías todos los días? | What did you used to eat every day? |
| Vivíamos cerca de la playa. | We used to live near the beach. |
Key Usage
- Repeated or habitual actions in the past
- Background information or descriptions
- Telling time or stating one’s age in the past
- Actions that were ongoing or in progress in the past
Habitual Actions
These are actions that were done repeatedly or “used to” happen. They don’t specify how many times, just that they were habitual.
- Yo siempre visitaba a mis abuelos los domingos.
- Antes, tú leías muchos libros.
- Nosotros íbamos a la playa cada verano.
You used to read many books before.
Antes, tú leías muchos libros.
'Leías' is the imperfect form of 'leer,' indicating a habitual action in the past.
Background & Descriptions
Use imperfect to set the scene, describe conditions, or tell what things were like in the past.
- Era un día soleado.
- La casa tenía un jardín grande.
- Mis amigos estaban en la sala.
Telling Time & Age
Use the imperfect forms of ser (era, eran) and tener (tenía) to tell what time it was or how old someone was in the past.
- Eran las ocho de la noche.
- Yo tenía diez años.
- Cuando era joven, viajaba mucho.
Actions in Progress
Describe two actions happening at the same time, or an action interrupted by another.
- Yo leía cuando él entró.
- Mientras esperábamos, hablábamos.
- Ella escribía y escuchaba música.
Irregular Imperfect Verbs
Only three verbs are irregular in the imperfect tense. They have unique stems but follow the usual endings:
| Infinitive | Imperfect Stem | Sample Conjugation (yo) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ir | iba- | yo iba | I used to go / I was going |
| ser | era- | yo era | I used to be / I was |
| ver | veí- | yo veía | I used to see / I was seeing |
Summary
The imperfect tense tells us about “what was happening,” “what used to happen,” or “what things were like” in the past. It answers background questions: time, age, weather, ongoing actions, and repeated habits.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- English Example: When I was a child, I always played in the park.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
