Imperfect Indicative

The imperfect indicative is used to describe actions or situations that were incomplete or in progress at the point of time in the past that is being described. For more information see use of the imperfect.

Note: the imperfect tense has two distinct English translations.

Let's look at the regular verb hablar (to speak).

Yo hablaba - I was speaking, I used to speak

Yo hablaba con mi papá todos los domingos.
- I was speaking with my father every Sunday.
- I used to speak with my father every Sunday.

The regular verb vivir (to live).

Yo vivía - I was living, I used to live

Yo vivía con mi abuela cada verano.
- I was living with my grandmother every summer.
- I used to live with my grandmother every summer.

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