Imperfect Past Tense

When to use

• Describes what was happening or used to happen in the past. A.k.a. “used to”

• Describes habitual actions done in the past.• Used for background; descriptions of persons

or things.

Conjugation

-aba -ábamos-abas -abais-aba -aban

-ía -íamos

-ías -íais

-ía -ían

AR

ER/IR

Examples-hablaba -hablábamos

-hablabas -hablabais

-hablaba -hablaban

-comía -comíamos

-comías -comíais

-comía -comían

-escribía -escribíamos

-escribías -escribíais

-escribía -escribían

Hablar

Comer

Escribir

Los irregulares-iba -íbamos

-ibas -ibais

-iba -iban

-era -éramos

-eras -erais

-era -eran

-veía -veíamos

-veías -veíais

-veía -veían

Ir

Ser

Ver

Imperfect v. Preterite

There are some verbs that change meaning based on if they are in the imperfect or preterite tense…

Imperfect PreteriteConocer:I used to know (a person)

Conocer:I met (a person)

Poder:I could (no effort)

Poder:I managed (could and did)

Imperfect PreteriteNo poder:I couldn’t

No poder:I tried and failed

Querer:I wanted

Querer:I wanted (and tried)

No querer:I didn’t want

No querer:I refused

Saber:I used to know (how or fact)

Saber:I found out

Tener:I had

Tener:I got

Costar:An item cost $25 (and I left it at the store)

Costar:An item cost $25 (and I bought it)