8.4.2

Uses of the Imperfect

Test yourself

Uses of the Imperfect Tense

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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.
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Repeated 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.
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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.
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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.
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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

1The Basics

2Everyday Activities

3Personal & Social Life

4The World Around Us

5The World of Work

6The International World

7Listening

7.1Time Expressions - Listening

7.2The Human Body & Health - Listening

7.3Food & Drink - Listening

7.4Travel & Transport - Listening

7.5Self, Family & Friends - Listening

7.6In the Home - Listening

7.7Colours - Listening

7.8Clothes & Accesories - Listening

7.9Leisure Time - Listening

7.10People & Places - Listening

7.11The Environment - Listening

7.12Communications & Technology - Listening

7.13The Built Environment - Listening

7.14Measurements - Listening

7.15Materials - Listening

7.16The World of Work - Listening

7.17Culture, Customs, Faith & Celebrations

8Common Tenses

8.1Present Tense

8.2Preterite Tense

8.3Imperfect Tense

8.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses

8.5Future Tense

9Important Verbs

10Advanced Tenses

10.1Future

10.2Conditional

10.3Continuous Tenses

10.4Perfect Tense

10.5Passive

10.6Present Subjunctive

10.7Imperfect Subjunctive

10.8Imperative

11Extra Grammar

11.1Articles

11.2Negatives

11.3Nouns

11.4Asking Questions

11.5Adjectives

11.6Adverbs

11.7Conjunctions

11.8Pronouns

11.9Prepositions

11.10Verbs

11.11Comparisons & Superlative

11.12Numbers, Expressions of Quantity, Dates & Times

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