6.4.2

Uses of the Imperfect

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Uses of the Imperfect Tense

Non-specific time

Non-specific time

  • When the time period is not clear, and the action isn't finished you need to use the imperfect.
  • En esos años Theo vivía en un pequeño apartamento.
    • In those days Theo was living in a small apartment.
Repetitive actions in the past

Repetitive actions in the past

  • Todos los días comía una naranja.
    • Every day I ate an orange.
  • Almorzábamos todos los sábados.
    • We used to eat lunch every Saturday.
Description

Description

  • When describing people, objects and events in the past, you must use the imperfect.
  • La casa era grande.
    • The house was big.
  • Mi amiga era alta.
    • My friend was tall.
  • Aquel día hacía frío.
    • It was cold that day.
Continuous actions that were going on when something else happened

Continuous actions that were going on when something else happened

  • Comían cuando llegó su abuelo.
    • They were eating when their grandad arrived.
  • Mi madre cocinaba cuando salí de la casa.
    • My mum was cooking when I left the house.
Age, Time

Age, Time

  • Mi hermana tenía veintiún años.
    • My sister was 21 years old.
  • Eran las cinco de la tarde.
    • It was five in the afternoon.
  • Era el 12 de enero.
    • It was the 12th of January.
Jump to other topics
1

The Basics

2

Current & Future Study & Employment

2.1

School & Subjects

2.2

School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)

2.3

School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)

2.4

Education Post - 16

2.5

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)

2.6

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)

3

Identity & Culture

3.1

Me, My Family & Friends

3.2

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)

3.3

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)

3.4

Technology in Everyday Life

3.5

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)

3.6

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)

3.7

Free Time Activities

3.8

Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)

3.9

Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)

3.10

Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.11

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)

3.12

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)

4

Areas of Interest

4.1

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2

Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)

4.3

Home & Region - Translations (Higher)

4.4

Social Issues

4.5

Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)

4.6

Social Issues - Translations (Higher)

4.7

Global Issues

4.8

Global Issues - Translations

4.9

Travel & Tourism

4.10

Travel & Tourism - Translations

5

Listening Practice

5.1

Time Expressions - Listening

5.2

Me, My Family & Friends - Listening

5.3

Technology in Everyday Life - Listening

5.4

Free-Time - Listening

5.5

Customs & Festivals - Listening

5.6

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening

5.7

Social Issues - Listening

5.8

Travel & Tourism - Listening

5.9

Education - Listening

5.10

Food & Drink - Listening

5.11

In the Home - Listening

5.12

Colours - Listening

5.13

Clothes & Accesories - Listening

5.14

Measurements - Listening

5.15

Materials - Listening

6

Common Tenses

7

Important Verbs

8

Advanced Tenses

9

Extra Grammar

9.1

Articles

9.2

Negatives

9.3

Nouns

9.4

Asking Questions

9.5

Adjectives

9.6

Adverbs

9.7

Conjunctions

9.8

Pronouns

9.9

By, With, From, Of

9.10

Verbs

9.11

Comparisons

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