17.3.2

Uses of the Imperfect Tense

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

1Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

2My Family & I

3Time

4Home

5Body & Illness

6Relationships

7Customs & Festivals

8School

9Jobs

10Town & Shopping

11Food & Health Life

12Free Time

13Social Media

14Holiday

15The World Around Us

16Present Tense

17Past Tense

18Future Tense

19Conditional

20Grammar

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