Imperfect Tense Formation - Formación del Imperfecto
In Spanish, there are two main ways to express actions in the past: the preterit and the imperfect.
This lesson includes information
on:
- Imperfect Tense Conjugation of Regular Verbs
- Related Vocabulary
The Imperfect Tense is used to describe:
- Actions repeated in the past (i.e., used to). For example,
"I used to study Spanish every morning."
- Hours, dates and ages in the past. For example, "It was 8
o'clock when he came home" and "He was 10 years old last year."
- Description in the past. For example, "She had brown eyes."
- Events that don’t have a beginning or an
end. For example, "She studied Spanish in Guatemala."
| Spanish |
Spanish |
English |
| Subject | Infinitive:
Hablar |
To
Speak
|
| Yo |
hablaba | I spoke |
| Tú | hablaba | You spoke |
| Usted/él/ella | hablaba | You (formal)/He/She spoke |
| Nosotros | hablaba | We spoke |
| Ustedes/Ellos/Ellas | hablaba | You (plural) spoke/They spoke |
| Spanish |
Spanish |
English |
| Subject | Infinitive: Comer |
To
Eat
|
| Yo |
comía | I ate |
| Tú | comías |
You ate |
| Usted/él/ella | comía | You (formal)/He/She ate |
| Nosotros | comíamos |
We ate |
| Ustedes/Ellos/Ellas | comían |
You (plural) speak/They ate |
| Spanish |
Spanish |
English |
| Subject | Infinitive: Vivir | To Live |
| Yo |
vivía | I lived |
| Tú | vivías | You lived |
| Usted/él/ella | vivía | You (formal)/He/She lived |
| Nosotros | vivíamos |
We lived |
| Ustedes/Ellos/Ellas | vivían | You (plural) speak/They lived |
2. Related Vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
| Grabar | To record |
| Gritar | To scream |
| Invitar | To invite |
| Llamar | To call |
| Llorar | To cry |
| Mandar | To send |
| Manejar | To drive |
| Marcar | To mark, dial |
| Nadar | To swim |
| Parar | To stop |
| Pasar | To pass, to happen |
| Patinar | To skate |
| Tirar | To throw |
| Trotar | To jog |
| Quitar | To take away |
| Tardar | To be late |
| Comer | To eat |
| Toser | To cough |
| Meter | To put in |
| Obtener | To obtain |
| Comprometer | To compromise |
| Defender | To defend |
| Mantener | To maintain |
| Desprender | To remove |
| Encender | To turn on |
| Oler | To smell |
| Leer | To read |
| Detener | To detain |
| Cometer | To commit |
| Prometer | To promise |
| Aprender | To learn |
| Entender | To understand |
| Vivir | To live |
| Sobrevivir | To survive |
| Omitir | To omit |
| Admitir | To admit |
| Permitir | To permit |
| Preferir | To prefer |
| Insistir | To insist |
| Intervenir | To intervene |
| Imprimir | To print |
| Subir | To climb |
| Conseguir | To obtain |
| Seguir | To follow, to continue |
| Asistir | To attend |
| Salir | To leave |
| Despedir | To say goodbye to, to fire |
| Repetir | To repeat |
| Servir | To serve |
| Vestir | To dress |
| Mentir | To lie |
| Hervir | To boil |
| Reír | To laugh |
| Sonreír | To smile |
| Concluir | To conclude |
| Incluir | To include |
| Huir | To flee |