Imperfetto Flashcards
Imperfetto is used to describe
- The way or things people were
(Lisa was a beautiful child. She had long hair) - Habitual actions in the past
(We used to go to the shore every year. Sometimes our cousins would come.) - Actions in progress in the past, when something else happened or was happening
(We were sleeping when he came in) - Weather, time of day, age, health, mental or psychological states in the past
(The weather was bad yesterday. The parents were worried. He felt sick last night.)
Lisa was a beautiful child.
Lisa era una bella bambina.
She had no problems at school.
Non aveva problemi a scuola.
She had long hair.
Aveva i capelli lunghi.
We used to go to the shore every year.
Andavamo ogni anno al mare.
We would take walks with Mom while Dad would fall asleep on the beach.
Facevamo passeggiate con la mamma mentre papà si addormentava sulla spiaggia.
Sometimes our cousins would come as well.
A volte venivano anche i nostri cugini.
We used to have a lot of fun together.
Ci divertivamo molto insieme.
We were sleeping when he came in.
Dormivamo quando è entrato.
I was thinking about our trip when you called me.
Pensavo al nostro viaggio quando mi hai chiamato.
Susanna was reading while Roberto was taking pictures.
Susanna leggeva mentre Roberto faceva fotografie.
The weather was bad yesterday and we didn’t go out.
Faceva cattivo tempo ieri e non siamo usciti.
It was eight-thirty when she came home.
Erano le otto e mezzo quando è tornata a casa.
I was nineteen years old when I went to Barcelona.
Avevo diciannove anni quando sono andata a Barcellona.
He felt sick last night.
Si sentiva male ieri sera.
The parents were worried about their children.
I genitori si preoccupavano per i loro bambini.
I went to school every day by bicycle.
Andavo a scuola tutti i giorni in bicicletta.
My grandparents were sweet and kind to me.
I miei nonni erano dolci e premurosi con me.
It was always cold in the winter.
D’inverno faceva sempre freddo.
The neighbors’ house had a nice garden.
La casa dei vicini aveva un bel giardino.
While I played on the carpet, my father read the newspaper.
Mentre giocavo sul tappeto, mio papà leggeva il giornale.
Both verbs imperfetto, both happened over time in the past
While I was taking a shower, my mother-in-law called me.
Mentre facevo la doccia, mi ha chiamato mia suocera.
Facevo - imperfetto (in progress in the past)
ha chiamato - passato prossimo (an event in the past)
