2.5 Lesson

Question 1

What is the imperfect tense in Spanish?

Answer 1

The imperfect tense describes an action that could have occurred more than once over a span of time, with no specific beginning or ending. Examples:

• An unspecified amount of time –> De joven, quería un carro, “When I was young, I wanted a car”
• An indefinite number of occurrences, such as a habit or custom –> Desayunaba todos los días con mi hermano, “I used to eat breakfast every day with my brother”

Question 2

Translate to Spanish.

I used to walk to school every day

Answer 2

Yo caminaba a la escuela todos los días

I used to walk - caminaba. Note that -ar verbs in the imperfect tense first person singular (yo) end in -aba

Question 3

Translate to Spanish.

Did you used to walk to Pepe’s house every night?

Answer 3

¿Caminabas a la casa de Pepe todas las noches?

you used to walk - caminabas

Question 4

Translate to Spanish.

Marta used to walk every weekend until she hurt her leg

Answer 4

Marta caminaba todos los fines de semana hasta que se lastimó la pierna

he/she used to walk - caminaba

Question 5

Translate to Spanish.

We used to walk alone every day

Answer 5

Caminábamos solos todos los días

we used to walk - caminábamos

Question 6

Translate to Spanish.

You (vosotros) used to walk down this road every day

Answer 6

Vosotros caminabais por esta calle todos los días

you (vosotros) used to walk - caminabais

Question 6

Translate to Spanish.

Raúl and Rodrigo were walking on the street when I came out of my house

Answer 6

Raúl y Rodrigo estaban caminando en la calle cuando yo salí de mi casa

was/were + __ing - estar (imperfect) + participle. This combination is known as the imperfect progressive tense

Question 7

Translate to Spanish.

Esteban didn’t realize that I was bathing when he entered the bathroom

Answer 7

Esteban no se dió cuenta de que me estaba bañando cuando él entró en el baño

to realize, to notice - darse cuenta (de). This literally means “to give oneself count of”

Question 8

Translate to Spanish.

TO WALK (Imperfect)

• I used to walk
• You used to walk
• He/She used to walk
• We used to walk
• You used to walk
• They used to walk

Answer 8

CAMINAR (Tiempo Imperfecto)

• Yo caminaba
• Tú caminabas
• Él/Ella/Ud caminaba
• Nosotros caminábamos
• Vosotros caminabais
• Ellos/Ellas/Uds caminaban

Question 9

What are the endings of regular -ar verbs (such as caminar) conjugated in the Imperfect Tense?

Answer 9

Regular Imperfect -ar endings

• -aba (yo)
• -abas (tú)
• -aba (él/ella/ud)
• -ábamos (nosotros)
• -abais (vosotros)
• -aban (ellos/ellas/uds)

Question 10

Translate to Spanish.

I used to eat with my grandparents every weekend

Answer 10

Comía con mis abuelos todos los fines de semana

I used to eat - comía. Comer is a regular -er verb in the imperfect

Question 11

Translate to Spanish.

You used to eat chicken with rice every Tuesday afternoon

Answer 11

Comías pollo con arroz todos los martes por la tarde

you used to eat - comías

Question 12

Translate to Spanish.

When Miguel was young, he used to eat an apple for lunch every day

Answer 12

De joven, Miguel comía una manzana de almuerzo todos los días

he/she used to eat - comía

Question 13

Translate to Spanish.

As kids, we didn’t used to eat vegetables. We only used to eat fruits

Answer 13

De niños, no comíamos verduras. Sólo comíamos frutas

we used to eat - comíamos

Question 14

Translate to Spanish.

Rosa and Paloma used to eat together every day

Answer 14

Rosa y Paloma comían juntas todos los días

they used to eat - comían

Question 15

Translate to Spanish.

You (vosotros) used to eat chicken every Thursday

Answer 15

Vosotros comíais pollo todos los jueves

you (vosotros) used to eat - comíais

Question 15

Translate to Spanish.

TO EAT (Imperfect)

• I ate
• You ate
• He/She ate
• We ate
• You ate
• They ate

Answer 15

COMER (Tiempo Imperfecto)

• Yo comía
• Tú comías
• Él/Ella/Ud comía
• Nosotros comíamos
• Vosotros comíais
• Ellos/Ellas/Uds comían

Question 16

What are the endings of regular -er and -ir verbs (such as comer and sentir) conjugated in the Imperfect Tense?

Answer 16

Regular Imperfect -er and -ir endings

• -ía (yo)
• -ías (tú)
• -ía (él/ella/ud)
• -íamos (nosotros)
• -íais (vosotros)
• -ían (ellos/ellas/uds)

Question 17

Translate to Spanish.

I feel sad when you don’t talk to me

Answer 17

Yo me siento triste cuando tú no me hablas

to feel - sentir(se). Note that sentir(se) is conjugated like mentir in the present tense (e.g. “I feel” - Yo (me) siento)

Question 18

Translate to Spanish.

When I used to walk with you, I used to feel very tired

Answer 18

Cuando caminaba contigo, me sentía muy cansada

I used to feel - me sentía

Question 19

Translate to Spanish.

When I was with you, you used to feel happy

Answer 19

Cuando estaba contigo, te sentías feliz

you used to feel - te sentías

Question 20

Translate to Spanish.

Your mother used to feel tired when you didn’t help her clean

Answer 20

Tu madre se sentía cansada cuando no le ayudabas a limpiar

he/she used to feel - se sentía

Question 21

Translate to Spanish.

We used to feel happy to go to your house every Wednesday

Answer 21

Nos sentíamos contentos de ir a tu casa todos los miércoles

we used to feel - nos sentíamos

Question 22

Translate to Spanish.

You (vosotros) were feeling embarrassed; that’s why you didn’t come

Answer 22

Vosotros os sentíais avergonzados; por eso no vinisteis

you (vosotros) used to feel - sentíais. Note that the conjugation “were feeling” is translated in Spanish by the imperfect

Question 23

# Translate to Spanish. Do you know if _they were feeling_ happy after she arrived?

Answer 23

¿Sabes si _ellos se sentían_ contentos después de que ella llegó? ## Footnote they used to feel - *se sentían*. Note the use of the imperfect *se sentían* in order to show how they were feeling and the preterite *llegó* to show one moment in time

Question 24

# Translate to Spanish. TO FEEL (Imperfect) * I used to feel * You used to feel * He/She used to feel * We used to feel * You used to feel * They used to feel

Answer 24

SENTIR(SE) (Tiempo Imperfecto) * Yo (me) sentía * Tú (te) sentías * Él/Ella/Ud (se) sentía * Nosotros (nos) sentíamos * Vosotros (os) sentíais * Ellos/Ellas/Uds (se) sentían ## Footnote Note that *-ir* verbs are conjugated the same as *-er* verbs in the preterite tense

Question 25

When do you use the **preterite** and the **imperfect** tenses?

Answer 25

**Preterite:** * An action that occurred once as a single event * An action that occurred a limited number of times * An action that was contained witihin a specific time frame **Imperfect:** * An action that was customary or habitual in the past * An action that was ongoing * An action that was contained within a broad time frame

Question 26

# Translate to Spanish. That _color_ is very pretty

Answer 26

Ese _color_ es muy bonito ## Footnote color - *el color*

Question 27

# Translate to Spanish. My brother has _brown_ hair, but I don't

Answer 27

Mi hermano tiene el cabello de color _castaño_, pero yo no ## Footnote brown - *marrón, castaño, café*. Note that the use of these words depends on the region

Question 28

# Translate to Spanish. _I used to be_ very blonde as a child, but now I have brown hair

Answer 28

_Yo era_ muy rubia de niña, pero ahora tengo el cabello de color castaño ## Footnote I used to be - *era*. Note that *ser* is irregular in the imperfect tense

Question 29

# Translate to Spanish. When _you were_ young, you always used to do your homework

Answer 29

Cuando _eras_ joven, siempre hacías tu tarea ## Footnote you used to be - *eras*

Question 30

# Translate to Spanish. _José was not_ a happy boy because he always used to hurt himself

Answer 30

_José no era_ un niño feliz porque siempre se lastimaba ## Footnote he/she used to be - *era*

Question 31

# Translate to Spanish. _We used to be_ best friends. What happened?

Answer 31

_Nosotros éramos_ mejores amigos. ¿Qué pasó? ## Footnote we used to be - *éramos*

Question 32

# Translate to Spanish. _You_ (vosotros) _used to be_ the most intelligent students in the class

Answer 32

_Vosotros erais_ los estudiantes más inteligentes de la clase ## Footnote you (vosotros) used to be - *erais*

Question 33

# Translate to Spanish. _Alejandro and Antonio used to be_ the worst students, but now they are the best ones

Answer 33

_Alejandro y Antonio eran_ los peores estudiantes, pero ahora son los mejores ## Footnote they used to be - *eran*

Question 34

# Translate to Spanish. We use to not have any _money_ when we were poor students

Answer 34

No teníamos nada de _dinero_ cuando éramos estudiantes pobres ## Footnote money - *el dinero*

Question 35

# Translate to Spanish. TO BE (Imperfect) * I used to be * You used to be * He/She used to be * We used to be * You used to be * They used to be

Answer 35

SER (Tiempo Imperfecto) * Yo **era** * Tú **eras** * Él/Ella/Ud **era** * Nosotros **éramos** * Vosotros **erais** * Ellos/Ellas/Uds **eran** ## Footnote Note that the conjugations for *ser* in the imperfect tense are irregular

Question 36

# Translate to Spanish. _I used to go_ to the supermarket with my grandmother every Saturday

Answer 36

_Yo iba_ al supermercado con mi abuela todos los sábados ## Footnote I used to go - *iba*. Remember that *ir* is irregular in the imperfect tense

Question 37

# Translate to Spanish. _Did you go_ to the movies a lot when you were a kid?

Answer 37

¿_Ibas_ mucho al cine cuando eras niño? ## Footnote you used to go - *ibas*

Question 38

# Translate to Spanish. _Rosario used to go_ to the museum all the time

Answer 38

_Rosario iba_ al museo todo el tiempo ## Footnote he/she used to go - *iba*

Question 39

# Translate to Spanish. When we had time, _we used to go_ to your house

Answer 39

Cuando teníamos tiempo, _íbamos_ a tu casa ## Footnote we used to go - *íbamos*

Question 40

# Translate to Spanish. _Every time_ you would go to school, I would go to work

Answer 40

_Cada vez_ que tú ibas al colegio, yo iba a trabajar ## Footnote every time, each time - *cada vez*

Question 41

# Translate to Spanish. How often do you _exercise_?

Answer 41

¿Cada cuánto _haces ejercicio_? ## Footnote to exercise - *hacer ejercicio*. Note that *cada cuá**nto* means "how often"

Question 42

# Translate to Spanish. I exercise _every other_ day

Answer 42

Hago ejercicio _cada dos_ días ## Footnote every other - *cada dos*. One may also say *un día de por medio*. *\*Cada otro\** is wrong

Question 43

# Translate to Spanish. _The rest of the_ students went to the museum

Answer 43

_Los demás de_ los estudiantes fueron al museo ## Footnote the rest of the - *los demás de*

Question 44

# Translate to Spanish. Are you going to eat _the rest_ of the chicken too?

Answer 44

¿Te vas a comer _el resto_ del pollo también? ## Footnote the rest - *el resto*. Note that *comer* often takes reflexive pronouns (e.g. *nos comemos la ensalada, él se come la manzana,* etc.*)*, although it is not obligatory

Question 45

# Translate to Spanish. _Both_ sisters were teachers at this school

Answer 45

_Ambas_ hermanas fueron maestras en esta escuela ## Footnote both - *los dos, ambos*

Question 46

# Translate to Spanish. Each time that _you_ (vosotros) _went_ to the library, I was already returning from there

Answer 46

Cada vez que _vosotros ibais_ a la biblioteca, yo ya estaba regresando de allí ## Footnote you (vosotros) used to go - *ibais*

Question 47

# Translate to Spanish. _They used to go_ to the museum each time that they had art homework

Answer 47

_Ellos iban_ al museo cada vez que tenían tarea de arte ## Footnote they used to go - *iban*

Question 48

# Translate to Spanish. TO GO (Imperfect) * I used to go * You used to go * He/She used to go * We used to go * You used to go * They used to go

Answer 48

IR (Tiempo Imperfecto) * Yo **iba** * Tú **ibas** * Él/Ella/Ud **iba** * Nosotros **í****bamos** * Vosotros **ibais** * Ellos/Ellas/Uds **iban** ## Footnote Remember that the conjugations for *ir* in the imperfect tense are irregular

Question 49

# Translate to Spanish. I already _finished_ my homework

Answer 49

Ya _acabé_ mi tarea ## Footnote to finish - *acabar*. *Terminar* and *acabar* can be used synonymously in certain cases (e.g., when describing someone finishing an activity)

Question 50

# Translate to Spanish. We _had just_ arrived when my mom called

Answer 50

_Acabábamos de_ llegar cuando llamó mi mamá ## Footnote Note that conjugating *acabar* in the imperfect tense allows us to indicate that something "had just" happened

Question 51

What is the **imperfect progressive tense** in Spanish?

Answer 51

The **imperfect progressive** is the Spanish equivalent of "was \_\_-ing". Like the present progressive (e.g. *está estudiando*), the **imperfect progressive** (e.g. *estaba estudiando*) is comprised of estar conjugated in the imperfect and a present participle: * *Estábamos escuchando el radio -* "We were listening to the radio."

Question 52

# Translate to English. * *Yo lo conocía* * *Yo lo conocí*

Answer 52

* *Lo conocía* means "I used to know him" * *Lo conocí* means "I met him"

Question 53

# Translate to English. * *Yo sabía la respuesta* * *Yo supe la respuesta*

Answer 53

* *Sabía* means "I knew" * *Supe* is closer to "I found out"

Question 54

# Translate to English. * *Yo tenía mucho dinero* * *Yo tuve mucho dinero*

Answer 54

* *Tenía mucho dinero* means "I used to have a lot of money" * *Tuve mucho dinero* means "I had a lot of money" or "I got a lot of money"

Question 55

# Translate to Spanish. We _just finished_ cooking

Answer 55

_Acabamos de_ cocinar ## Footnote to have just - *acabar de*.