The Imperfect Tense in Spanish

The imperfect tense (el pretérito imperfecto) is a key part of Spanish grammar for expressing ongoing or habitual actions in the past. In this guide, you’ll learn what it is, how to form it, and master essential verbs to expand your skills.

What is the Imperfect Tense in Spanish?

In Spanish, the imperfect tense is known as el pretérito imperfecto, or simply el imperfecto. Unlike the preterite tense, which is used for completed actions, the imperfect tense describes actions that happened repeatedly or continuously in the past. It is particularly useful for talking about childhood memories or habitual routines. This tense is flexible and perfect for setting the scene in stories.

Example: Cuando era niño, siempre jugaba en el parque. (When I was a child, I always played in the park.)

How to Form the Imperfect Tense in Spanish? 

For most verbs, the imperfect tense follows a simple pattern based on the verb ending: -ar, -er, or -ir.

→ For -ar verbs (like hablar):

Yo hablaba
Tú hablabas
Él/Ella/Usted hablaba
Nosotros/as hablábamos
Vosotros/as hablabais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablaban

→ For -er and -ir verbs (like comer and vivir):

Yo comía / vivía
Tú comías / vivías
Él/Ella/Usted comía / vivía
Nosotros/as comíamos / vivíamos
Vosotros/as comíais / vivíais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comían / vivían

Which Are the Three Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect Tense?

While all verbs can be used in the imperfect tense, there are three irregular verbs to know well. These verbs don’t follow the usual rules and are common in everyday conversations.

→ Ser (to be):

→ Ir (to go):

→ Ver (to see):

Yo veía
Tú veías
Él/Ella/Usted veía
Nosotros/as veíamos
Vosotros/as veíais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes veían

Common Uses of the Imperfect Tense in Spanish

The imperfect tense in Spanish (el pretérito imperfecto) is incredibly versatile. Here’s a summary of the most frequent uses, with examples to help you understand how to apply it.

- Habitual Actions in the Past
This use describes actions that were repeated regularly or were habitual.

- Descriptions and Background Information
The imperfect is ideal for setting the scene with background details about a situation, setting, or a person in the past.

- Ongoing Actions Interrupted by Another Action
When one action was happening, and another action interrupted it, the imperfect sets up the ongoing action.

Caminaba por el parque cuando empezó a llover. (I was walking through the park when it started to rain.)

- Expressing Age, Time, and Weather in the Past
Frequently used for indicating age, telling the time, and describing weather conditions in the past.

Eran las seis de la tarde. (It was six in the evening.) 

Cuando tenía diez años, vivía en Madrid. (When I was ten, I lived in Madrid.

These examples show how the imperfect tense adds depth and description to past events, perfect for storytelling and painting vivid scenes in Spanish.

👇✍️ Now do these exercises to practice ✍️👇

Mastering the imperfect tense will enhance your Spanish storytelling, enabling you to set scenes and describe memories with ease. Ready to add this essential tool to your Spanish repertoire?

What are some memories or routines from your past that you would describe using the imperfect tense in Spanish? Share them in the comments and practise using this versatile tense!😁

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