-ar
hablaba, hablabas…
Spanish 102 · Grammar
Imperfect tense
If the preterite is a snapshot, the imperfect is the background video — weather, age, repeated actions.
The rule
-ar imperfect: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban. -er/-ir imperfect: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
Ir, ser, and ver share the imperfect base ib-, er-, ve-: iba, era, veía (with regular imperfect endings).
Classic uses: Cuando era niño…, Siempre íbamos…, Hacía frío, Eran las tres.
English “would” for past habit often maps to imperfect: Cuando vivía en Madrid, tomaba el metro.
De niña, visitábamos a mis abuelos cada verano.As a girl, we used to visit my grandparents every summer.
Llovía y la calle estaba vacía.It was raining and the street was empty.
Examples in context
De niño, jugaba al fútbol cada tarde.As a child, I played soccer every afternoon.imperfect — habit
Mientras estudiaba, sonó el teléfono.While I was studying, the phone rang.background action
La casa era grande y tenía tres ventanas.The house was big and had three windows.imperfect — description
Siempre íbamos a la playa en verano.We always used to go to the beach in summer.repeated past
Eran las ocho cuando empezó la película.It was eight when the movie started.time setting
Mi abuela cocinaba los domingos para toda la familia.My grandmother used to cook on Sundays for the whole family.ongoing custom
No sabía la respuesta, así que adiviné.I did not know the answer, so I guessed.state vs. event
Llovía y hacía frío durante el desfile.It was raining and cold during the parade.weather backdrop
Quick reference
-er / -ir
comía, vivía…
Time/age
Eran las ocho; Tenía seis años.
Common mistakes
Wrong agreement
❌ Wrong: La problema es fácil.
✅ Correct: El problema es fácil.
Problema is masculine despite ending in -a.
Double subjects
❌ Wrong: Yo soy yo estudiante.
✅ Correct: Soy estudiante.
Drop redundant subject pronouns when the verb ending is clear.
Negation placement
❌ Wrong: Entiendo no.
✅ Correct: No entiendo.
Place no immediately before the conjugated verb.
Literal word order
❌ Wrong: ¿Qué hora es qué?
✅ Correct: ¿Qué hora es?
Keep standard question frames; do not copy English order.
Practice questions
Test what you just learned. Select an answer to see instant feedback.
Cuando era niño, siempre _____ (jugar) en el parque.
Mientras _____ (estudiar), sonó el teléfono.
Los domingos, mi abuela _____ (cocinar) paella.
_____ las ocho cuando llegamos.
La casa _____ vieja pero bonita.
You got 0/5 correct.
Want more practice on Imperfect tense?
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Start practicing free →FAQ
When do I use the preterite instead of the imperfect?
The preterite presents an action as completed or bounded: something happened, started, finished, or interrupted another action. The imperfect sets background, repeats a habit, or describes an ongoing scene without stressing an endpoint. Many stories mix them: imperfect for setting, preterite for what changed.
Do time expressions always force one tense?
Ayer or en 2019 often appear with preterite because they frame single events, but context still matters. Phrases like siempre or todos los días usually pair with imperfect when you mean “used to” or repeated past action. Learn frames from your textbook rather than memorizing one trigger word per tense.
Why does Spanish have two past tenses if English often uses one?
English can say “I studied” for both a finished stint last night and a routine years ago. Spanish separates “viewpoint”: preterite for the event as a whole, imperfect for the middle of a process or repeated backdrop. Translating word-for-word from English is a common source of mistakes.
How do irregular preterite stems work?
High-frequency verbs like ser/ir, tener, hacer, and decir use stems and endings you must memorize. Patterns group partly by meaning (e.g., -ducir → -uje), but introductory courses usually give charts. Drill the yo and ellos forms first; they are the most distinctive.
Can I use imperfect and preterite in the same sentence?
Yes. A classic pattern is imperfect for ongoing background and preterite for the interruption: Caminaba por el parque cuando vi a mi profesora. The imperfect clause sets the stage; the preterite clause is the sudden, completed notice.