the imperfect tense knowing when to use the imperfect
TRANSCRIPT
The Imperfect Tense
Knowing When to Use the Imperfect
Actions in the past that occurred repeatedly, which can be translated as “used to” (a.k.a., habitual actions)
Actions in the past that occurred repeatedly, which can be translated as “used to” (a.k.a., habitual actions)
Yo caminaba todos los días. =
(“I walked every day,” “or “I used to walk every day.”)
Hablaba con mamá todas las mañanas. =
(“I talked with my mom every morning,” or “I used to talk with my mom every morning.”)
Ejemplos:
The Imperfect Expresses…
1.
Actions in the past that occurred over an extended period of time (within a non-specific time/date frame – no set start
or end date; can be translated as “would…”)
Actions in the past that occurred over an extended period of time (within a non-specific time/date frame – no set start
or end date; can be translated as “would…”)
De niño, yo miraba la televisión los sabados, por la mañana. = (As a kid, I watched/would watch television on Saturday mornings.)
Yo estaba enferma a menudo. = (I was sick often/I would be sick often.)
Ejemplos:
2.
Más ejemplos:Yo estudiaba español en el colegio. = (“I
studied Spanish in high school,” or “I used to study Spanish in high school.”)
Vivía en España cuando tenía 18 años. = (“I lived in Spain when I was 18,” or “I used to live in Spain when I was 18.”)
Trabajaba en un restaurante cuando era adolesente. = (“I worked in a restaurant when I was a teen,” or “I used to work in a restaurant when I was a teen.”)
Feelings and emotions experienced in the past
Feelings and emotions experienced in the past
Yo tenía miedo a las fantasmas. =
(I was/used to be afraid of ghosts.”)
Quería ir a Disney World. =
(I wanted to go to Disney World.)
Me gustaban las películas de terror. =
(“I liked horror movies,” or “I used to like horror movies.”)
Ejemplos:
3.
Time in the past. Time in the past.
¿Qué hora era? =
(What time was it?)
Eran las tres de la tarde. =
(It was 3 in the afternoon.)
Ejemplo:
4.
Describing and expressing background information in the past
Describing and expressing background information in the past
Hacía frío. = (It was cold.)
Estaba en la escuela. = (He was in the school.)
La casa era blanca. = (The house was white.)
Ejemplos:
5.
Ongoing actions in the past (translated as “was/were…ing”)
Ongoing actions in the past (translated as “was/were…ing”)
Comía pollo. = (I was eating chicken.)
El tomaba el sol. = (He was sunbathing.)
La mujer estaba riendo. = (The woman was laughing.)
Ejemplos:
6.
How old someone wasHow old someone was
Él tenía nueve años. =
(He was 9 years old.)
Ejemplo:
7.
Phrases that describe the frequency of past actions Phrases that describe the frequency of past actions
a menudo = often
a veces = sometimes
siempre = always
todos los días = every day
generalmente = generally
frecuentemente = frequently
Phrases that describe the frequency of past actions Phrases that describe the frequency of past actions
cada año = each year
cada mes = each month
cada día = each day
cada verano = each summer
cada primavera = each spring
cada invierno = each winter
cada otoño = each fall/autumn
For –arar verbs add the following endings to the verb stem:
For –arar verbs add the following endings to the verb stem:
yo –abaabatú –abasabasusted, él, ella –abaaba
nosotros/as –áábamosbamosvosotros/as –abaisabais ustedes, ellos, ellas –abanaban
Note: Only the nosotros/as form has an accent mark.
Note: Only the nosotros/as form has an accent mark.
For –er er and –irir verbs, add the following endings to the verb stem:
For –er er and –irir verbs, add the following endings to the verb stem:
yo ––ííaatú ––ííasasusted, él, ella ––íía a
nosotros/as ––ííamosamosvosotros/as ––ííais ais ustedes, ellos, ellas ––ííanan
Note: All forms have an accent mark over the i.
Note: All forms have an accent mark over the i.
There are only 3 irregular verbs in the imperfect.
ser ir verera iba veíaeras ibas veíasera iba veía
éramos íbamos veíamoserais ibais veíaiseran iban veían
ser ir verera iba veíaeras ibas veíasera iba veía
éramos íbamos veíamoserais ibais veíaiseran iban veían
What irregularities do they have?What irregularities do they have?
Drop the “s”
Except for the “yo” form, add
endings of an “ar” verb in the present
tense.
Add “ar” endingsof the imperfect.
Add “er/ir” endings of
the imperfect.
Drop the “r”
Drop the “r”
¿Qué hora era?
Corría a la escuela todos los días.
Vivíamos en Perú.
Estaban contentos.
Cantaba todos los días.
What time was it?
I ran to school every day.
We lived in Perú.
They were (feeling) happy.
She sang every day.
A few more…(Try them first, then check your answers on the next slide.)
• I used to sing and dance.
• You (informal) would play soccer.
• He was watching TV.
• She would put on makeup.
• We (mixed gender) were studying.
• You (plural, feminine) used to eat meat before!
• They (masculine) used to be short.
Respuestas
• (Yo) Cantaba y bailaba.
• Tú jugabas al fútbol.
• Él miraba/veía la tele.
• Ella se maquillaba.
• Nosotros estudiábamos.
• Vosotras comíais carne antes!
• Ellos eran bajos.
Credits©2010 Teacher’s Discovery
Written by: Jami SipeEdited by: M. Benford
Additional Information by: Suzanne Rutkowski
Adriana Miretti
Graphics and Design: Joseph Kohler
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