Imperfect Spanish tense

Imperfect vs Preterite

• Imperfect describes past actions that are incomplete/ongoing or habitual; preterite describes completed actions.
• Use imperfect to describe what was happening at a certain time or how things used to be; use preterite for actions that were completed.

Endings (Imperfect)

• Endings for -ar vs -er/-ir differ, but note: -er and -ir endings are the same in the imperfect.
• AR endings: $-aba,</li> <li>abas,</li> <li>aba,</li> <li>ábamos,</li> <li>abais,</li> <li>aban$
• ER/IR endings: $-ía,</li> <li>ías,</li> <li>ía,</li> <li>íamos,</li> <li>íais,</li> <li>ían$
• Accent patterns:
  • nosotros form of -ar verbs carries an accent on the first a of the ending (e.g., hablábamos).
  • all -er and -ir endings carry an accent on the first i (e.g., comía, comías, vivía, vivíamos).

Irregulars and Special Forms

• There are no stem changes in the imperfect.
• The imperfect form of hay is había (there was; there were; there used to be).
• Ir, ser, and ver are irregular in the imperfect.

Uses and Trigger Phrases

• The imperfect describes actions seen as incomplete or ongoing, or habitual/repeated actions.
• The preterite describes actions that were completed.
• Common expressions with the imperfect for habitual/repeated actions: de niño/a (as a child), todos los días (every day), mientras (while).

Notable Points from Practice and Examples

• Practically, verbs in imperfect exercise often include: ver, viajar, vivir, hablar, correr, ir, bailar, asistir, ser, comprender.
• There are no stem-changing verbs in the imperfect, so conjugations follow the regular patterns above.
• Use appropriate endings and remember irregulars (ir, ser, ver) and hay → había when needed in context.