Chapter 3 Imperfect Flashcards
-ar verbs (cantar)
The nosotros form of -ar verbs always carries an accent mark on the first ‘a’ of the ending.
cantaba cantabas cantaba cantábamos cantaban
-er verbs (beber)
All forms of -er and -ir verbs in the imperfect carry an accent of the first ‘i’ of the ending.
bebía bebías bebía bebíamos bebían
-ir verbs (escribir)
escribía escribías escribía escribíamos escribían
There are no stem changes in the imperfect.
entender (e:ie)
Entendíamos japonés.
servir (e:i)
El camarero les servía el café.
doler (o:ue)
A Javier le dolía el tobillo.
hay (there is; there are)
había (there was; there were; there used to be)
Imperfect of ir
iba ibas iba íbamos iban
ser
era eras era éramos eran
ver
veía veías veía veíamos veían
Uses of the imperfect
As a general rule, the imperfect is used to describe actions which are seen by the speaker as incomplete or continuing.
The imperfect expresses what was happening at a certain time or how things used to be.
Uses of the preterite
The preterite is used to describe actions which have been completed.
Uses of the imperfect
Habitual or repeated actions
Events or actions that were in progress
Physical characteristics
Mental or emotional states
Telling time
Age
Preterite vs. imperfect 1
Preterite = used to express actions that are viewed by the speaker as completed.
Imperfect = used to describe an ongoing past action with no reference to its beginning or end.
Preterite vs. imperfect 2
Preterite = to express the beginning or end of a past action
Imperfect = to express habitual past actions and events
Preterite vs. imperfect 3
Preterite = to narrate a series of past actions or events
Imperfect = to describe physical and emotional states or characteristics
Expressions often used with the imperfect.
de niño/a (as a child)
todos los días (every day)
mientras (while)
