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IMPERFECT TENSE

 

The Imperfect Tense is used to describe an action in the past which has taken place more than once or over a period of time.  It can also be used to describe something you used to do.  Certain words will automatically lead you into using the Imperfect Tense such as all (todo), always (siempre), many times (muchas veces), every (cada) and often (con frecuencia).

 

AR 

 

PERSON  IMPERFECT TENSE 

Ar eg. HABLAR 

TO SPEAK 
I  Yo

I  spoke /  

used to speak

 HABLABA
You Tú You spoke / used to speak HABLABAS
He / She / Usted Él / Ella / Usted

He / she spoke /

used to speak 

 HABLABA
We Nosotros (as) 

We spoke /

used to speak

 HABLÁBAMOS 
You Vosotros  (as) 

You spoke /

used to speak

 HABLABAIS
They / Ustedes Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes

They spoke /

used to speak

 HABLABAN

 

ER 

PERSON  IMPERFECT TENSE

ER eg.COMER 

TO EAT 
I  Yo

I ate /

used to eat

 COMÍA
You Tú

You ate /

used to eat

 COMÍAS 
He / She / Usted Él / Ella / Usted

He / she ate /

used to eat

 COMÍA
We Nosotros (as) 

We ate /

used to eat

 COMÍAMOS 
You Vosotros  (as) 

You ate /

used to eat

 COMÍAIS 
They / Ustedes Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes

They ate /

Used to eat 

 COMÍAN

 

IR 

PERSON  IMPERFECT TENSE 

IR eg.VIVIR 

TO LIVE 
I  Yo

I lived /

used to live

 VIVÍA
You Tú

You lived /

used to live

 VIVÍAS
He / She / Usted Él / Ella / Usted

He / she lived  /

used to live

 VIVÍA
We Nosotros (as) 

We lived /

used to live

 VIVÍAMOS 
You Vosotros  (as) 

You lived /

used to live

 VIVÍAIS 
They / Ustedes Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes

They lived /

used to live 

 VIVÍAN