EL IMPERFECTO The Imperfect Tense The SECOND past tense in Spanish
What is Imperfect? Used for actions in the past that are not seen as completed There is no definite beginning or definite end to the action.
So What…? “imperfectly” ended. Hence the name Imperfect Tense Because of this lack of definite completeness, the action is “imperfectly” ended. Hence the name Imperfect Tense
What does this mean? It means the action, although in the past, is somewhat vague and unclear. EX: She was eating Doritos. When did she stop? Did she stop? Is she still eating Doritos?
I don’t get it……………. She was eating Doritos. NOT ONLY IS THE ACTION VAGUE: STOP? START? Beginning? End? “was eating” represents a continuous action in the PAST.
It also…… Represents an action that was in progress at some time in the past. ****This is also one of the uses of IMPERFECT TENSE: in progress in the past.
ALGUNOS EJEMPLOS (some examples) -------I WAS READING WHEN THE DOORBELL RANG. -------They were studying for an English Test. -------Mom was cooking supper, and we were washing the car.
These examples seem incomplete because: -----no timeline of completion These examples seem incomplete because: -----no timeline of completion and ------THE ACTIONS ARE IN PROGRESS AT SOME PAST POINT IN TIME…
Therefore, use imperfect tense when: When the PAST timeline is indefinite: no clear beginning or end The action is IN PROGRESS IN THE PAST
IMPERFECT TENSE ENDINGS AR VERBS: aba ábamos abas (abais) aba aban Only 1st plural has an accent mark
IMPERFECT TENSE ENDINGS ER and IR VERBS ía íamos ías (íais) ía ían all letters “I” have accent marks
THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR “yo” AND THE 3RD PERSON singular THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR “yo” AND THE 3RD PERSON singular “ÉL, ELLA, UD.” HAVE THE SAME ENDINGS. ----Use context clues ----and sometimes you have to use the “YO” to distinguish the difference.
Additional uses of imperfect: To say what used to happen: We used to live in Virginia. They used to eat red meat. Women used to wear dresses.
Customary OR habitual What usually happened over and over again in the past Every summer we used to go to the mountains. Each Christmas we used to visit our grandparents in Montana. We used to eat lots of potato chips.
EL IMPERFECTO LOS IRREGULARES THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF VERBS IN SPANISH (AS IN MOST LANGUAGES) *YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH DOZENS OF THEM ALREADY
EL IMPERFECTO LOS IRREGULARES OF THESE THOUSANDS (DOZENS FOR YOU) VERBS IN SPANISH, ONLY THREE ARE IRREGULAR. IN THE ENTIRE LANGUAGE, ONLY 3 ARE IRREGULAR IN THE IMPERFECT TENSE
THREE IRREGULAR VERBS IN IMPERFECT TENSE: IR SER VER ¿ CUÁLES ? WHICH ONES? THREE IRREGULAR VERBS IN IMPERFECT TENSE: IR SER VER
ADD TO CONJUGATION PAGES. (YOU MAY USE THE BACK IF YOU CHOOSE) ADD TO CONJUGATION PAGES *(YOU MAY USE THE BACK IF YOU CHOOSE) *BE SURE TO LABEL THESE AS IMPERFECT IRREGULARS IR—TO GO SER—TO BE VER—TO SEE, WATCH IBA ÍBAMOS ERA ÉRAMOS VEÍA VEÍAMOS IBAS IBAIS ERAS ERAIS VEÍAS VEÍAIS IBA IBAN ERA ERAN VEÍA VEÍAN