"

Lección 5.3

The Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense in Spanish is used to talk about past actions that were ongoing, repeated, or not seen as completed. Unlike the preterite, which tells us exactly when something started or ended, the imperfect focuses more on descriptions, habits, or background information. For example, the imperfect is used to express what someone used to do. It is also used to explain what things were like in the past. It is also important for setting the scene in stories, describing weather, time, or emotions in the past. For example, ‘When I was young, we used to go on a walk everyday.’ or ‘When she was on vacation she would go to the beach every day.’ The imperfect is key because it allows speakers to go beyond simply saying what happened once. It allows speakers to talk about routines, memories and descriptions which are an important part of everyday communication.

There are common phrases that introduce an occurrence in the past that are common when using the imperfect tense.

Cuando era niño/niña- When I was a child Cuando tenía (____) años- when I was (____) years old De niño/niña-as a child De joven-as a young person En el pasado-in the past
En aquella época-at that time En aquellos días-in those days En mi infancia-in my childhood En mi juventud-in my youth Antes-before
Mientras-while Había una vez-once upon a time Simpre que-whenever Cada vez que- each time that Frecuentemente-frequently
Generalmente/Por lo general- generally Normalmente-normally De vez en cuando-from time to time A menudo-often Muchas veces-many times
Cada día-Each day Cada año-each year Cada semana-each week Todos los veranos-Every summer Todos los días-every day

Conjugation for the imperfect tense is the same as any other conjugation. Below are the verb endings for the imperfect tense.

-AR Verbs in the Imperfect

Example verb: visitar – to visit (Root/Stem: visit)

Yo Viajaba I used to travel/ I was traveling Nosotros viajabamos We used to travel/We were traveling
Tú viajabas You used to travel/  you were traveling Vosotros viajabais Y’all used to travel/Y’all were traveling
Usted viajaba You used to travel/ you were traveling Ustedes Viajaban Y’all used to travel/   Y’all were traveling
Él Viajaba He used to travel/ he was traveling Ellos Viajaban They used to travel/ they were traveling
Ella viajaba She used to travel/ she was traveling Ellas viajaban They used to travel/ they were traveling

Activity 1 – Drag and Drop (-AR)

Match each subject with the correct imperfect ending for -AR verbs.

Endings to be dragged
Yo visit I used to visit/I was visiting ‘aba’
Tú visit You used to visit/ you were visiting ‘abas’
Usted visit You used to visit/ you were visiting ‘aba’
Él visit He used to visit/He was visiting ‘aba’
Ella visit She used to visit/she was visiting ‘aba’
Nosotros visit We used to visit/we were visiting ‘ábamos’
Ustedes visit You all used to visit/you all were visiting ‘aban’
Ellos visit They used to visit/they were visiting ‘aban’
Ellas visit They used to visit/they were visiting ‘aban’

Activity 2- Multiple Choice- Please pick the correct conjugation of the verb in each sentence.

Activity 2- Multiple Choice- Please pick the correct conjugation of the verb in each sentence.

  1. Cuando era niña, you siempre ________________ a la playa con mi familia.
  2. viajaban b. viajaba            c. viajábamos                   (* viajaba)
  3. De vez en cuando, ella _________________ recuerdos en cada ciudad que visitaba.
  4. compraba b. comprábamos          c. compraban                  (*compraba)
  5. Cada semana, nosotros ____________ ofertas en las tiendas del mercado.
  6. buscaba b. buscaban                      c. buscábamos         (*buscábamos)
  7. De vez en cuando, ellos _______________ con efectivo cuando iban de compras.
  8. pagaban b. pagaba                             c. pagabas          (*pagaban)
  9. Normalmente, mi madre _______________ los precios para encontrar las mejores rebajas.
  10. mirabas b. miraba                              c. mirábamos                   (*miraba)
  11. Por lo general, ustedes _____________ mucho dinero en ropa durante las vacaciones.
  12. gastaban b. gastaba                            c. gastabas             (*gastaban)
  13. Cada verano, nosotros _______________ diferentes países.
  14. visitaba b. visitaban                         c. visitábamos               (*visitábamos)
  15. Yo siempre _________________ por las calles para conocer la ciudad.
  16. caminaban b. caminaba                      c. caminábamos           (*caminaba)
  17. Antes, los vendedores ______________ con los turistas en el mercado.
  18. regateaba b. regateaban                   c. regateábamos          (*regateaban)
  19. Mis amigos siempre _____________ cámaras para tomar fotos durante los viajes.
  20. llevaba b. llevábamos                  c. llevaban               (*llevaban)

 

Er Verbs in the Imperfect Tense

Vender-to sale Root/Stem-Vend

Yo vendía I used to sell/ I was selling Nosotros vendíamos We used to sell/ we were selling
Tú vendías You used to sell/ you were selling Vosotros vendíais Y’all used to sell/  Y’ all were selling
Usted vendía You used to sell/ you were selling Ustedes vendían Y’all used to sell/  Y’ all were selling
Él vendía He used to sell/ he was selling Ellos vendían They used to sell/  They were selling
Ella vendía She used to sell/ she was selling Ellas vendían They used to sell/  They  were selling

Activity 3-Drag and Drop. Please drop the correct ending for the preterite verb ‘volver’.

Endings to be dragged
Yo volv I used to return/ I was returning ‘ía’
Tú Volv You used to return/ you were returning ‘ías’
Usted Volv You used to return/you were returning ‘ía’
Él Volv He used to return/he was returning ‘ía’
Ella Volv She used to return/she was returning ‘ía’
Nosotros Volv We used to return/we were returning ‘íamos’
Ustedes Volv You all used to return/you all were returning ‘ían’
Ellos Volv They used to return/they were returning ‘ían’
Ellas Volv They used to return/they were returning ‘ían’

Activity 4- Fill in the Blanks. Please fill in the space with the correct  verb form.

  1. Todos los días, los vendedores ___________________ (vender) frutas riquísimas. (*vendían)
  2. Nosotros siempre ________________ (comer) en restaurantes locales cuando viajábamos. (*comíamos)
  3. A menudo, tú ________________ (aprender) palabras nuevas en español mientras comprabas en las tiendas. (*aprendías)
  4. De vez en cuando, los turistas ________________(beber) café en las plazas al medio día. (*bebían)
  5. De joven, yo ______________(conocer) a muchas personas en las ciudades que visitaba. (*conocía)

 

Ir verbs in the Imperfect Tense

abrir-to open Stem/Root- abr

Yo Abría I used to open/ I was opening Nosotros Abríamos We used to open/ we were opening
Tú Abrías You used to open/ you were opening Vosotros Abríais Y’all used to open/ y’all were opening
Usted Abría You used to open/ you were opening Ustedes Abrían Y’all used to open/ y’all were opening
Él Abría He used to open/ he was opening Ellos Abrían They used to open/ they were opening
Ella Abría She used to open/ she was opening Ellas Abrían They used to open/ they were opening

Activity 5- Drag and Drop- Please drop the correct ending for the preterite verb ‘describir’.

Endings to be dragged
Yo Describ I used to describe/ I was describing ‘ía’
Tú Describ You used to describe/ you were describing ‘ías’
Usted Describ You used to describe/you were describing ‘ía’
Él Describ He used to describe/ he was describing ‘ía’
Ella Describ She used to describe/she was describing ‘ía’
Nosotros Describ We used to describe/we were describing ‘íamos’
Ustedes Describ You all used to describe/you all were describing ‘ían’
Ellos Describ They used to describe/ they were describing ‘ían’
Ellas Describ They used to describe/they were describing ‘ían’

Activity 6- Fill in the blanks-Please fill the blank with the correct verb conjugation.

  1. Las tiendas siempre_______________(abrir) a las nueve de la mañana. (*abrían)
  2. A veces, yo les ____________(escribir) a mis amigos cuando viajaba a otro país. (*escribía)
  3. De jóvenes nosotros _____________(salir) temprano para visitar los mercados locales.(*salíamos)
  4. Muchas veces, los turistas ______________ (vivir) experiencias interesantes. (*vivían)
  5. Tú siempre _______________ (decidir) qué museos visitabamos. (*decidías)

It is important to observe that it is important to learn the imperfect tense endings with the accent marks since they keep the stress in the right place.

Also, in the imperfect tense, ‘-er’ and ‘-ir’ verbs have the same endings.

Activity 7- Multiple Choice-Please pick the correct answer.

  1. Cuando era niño, yo siempre ____________ a la playa con mi familia.
  2. viajaba b. viajabas                           c. viajaban (*viajaba)
  3. Tú siempre _______________ recuerdos en cada ciudad que visitabas.
  4. compraba b. comprábamos          c. comprabas (*comprabas)
  5. Nosotros ______________ en las calles del centro histórico todas las tardes.
  6. caminaba b. caminábamos           c. caminabas (*caminábamos)
  7. Ellos siempre ________________ frutas secas en el mercado.
  8. vendía b. vendíamos                    c. vendían (*vendían)
  9. Cuando yo era joven, mi madre ________________ muchas fotos de mis sitios favoritos.
  10. tomabas b. tomábamos                 c. tomaba (*tomaba)
  11. Durantes sus viajes, ¿ustedes ______________ postales a sus amigos?
  12. escribían b. escribíamos                c. escribía (*escribían)
  13. Yo siempre _______________ temprano para ir de compras.
  14. salían b. salíamos                         c. salía (*salía)
  15. En aquel tiempo, los turistas _________________ mucho café en los mercados.
  16. bebían b. bebía                                  c. bebíamos (*bebían)
  17. En esa época, nosotros nos ________________ en hostales.
  18. quedaba b. quedabas                      c. quedábamos  (*quedábamos)
  19. Tú siempre ___________________ dónde comíamos.
  20. decidías b. decidíamos                  c. decidía (*decidías)

Activity 8- Fill in the blanks- Please fill in the blank with the correct conjugation.

  1. Nosotros siempre _______________(viajar) a Panamá durante el Verano. (viajábamos)
  2. En la ciudad de Panamá, yo ______________(caminar) por las calles todos los días. (*caminaba)
  3. Cuando era joven, los vendedores ______________(vender) artesanías muy bonitas en el mercado. (vendían)
  4. Tú siempre __________________(comprar) sombreros pintados en las tiendas locales. (*comprabas)
  5. En esos días, los turistas _______________(beber) jugo de piña en la playa. (*bebían)
  6. De Jovenes, nosotros ___________________(visitar) el Canal de Panamá con nuestros amigos. (*visitábamos)
  7. Ustedes _______(escribir) postales a sus familias, antes de los teléfonos móviles? (*escribían)
  8. Yo siempre _______________ (mirar) a las fotos de mis amigos. (*miraba)
  9. Cuando era joven, los niños ______________(abrir) los regalos que sus padres compraban en el mercado. (*abrían)
  10. Cada tarde, tú ______________ (comer) pescado fresco en un restaurante cerca al mar. (*comías)

The Verbs ‘Ser’ and ‘Estar’ in the Imperfect Tense

In the imperfect tense, the verbs ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ are essential because they allow speakers to describe what people or things were like in the past, as well as where they were located or how they were feeling without focusing on when those situations began and ended. In the same way that the verb ‘ser’ is used in the present tense, in the imperfect is used to describe more permanent or defining characteristics in the past such as professions, physical traits, time or origins. In the same way that the verb ‘estar’ is used in the present tense, the verb ‘estar’ in the imperfect is used to talk about temporary conditions, emotions or locations in the past. Mastering ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ in the imperfect tense is important because it expands the possibility of telling stories, of telling how things used to be in the past.

Below are the conjugations of ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ in the imperfect tense.

Ser- to be

Yo era Nosotros éramos
Tú eras Vosotros erais
Usted era Ustedes eran
Él era Ellos eran
Ella era Ellas eran

Activity 1- Fill in the blanks. Please fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘ser’ in the imperfect tense.

  1. El mercado de artesanías _________ muy famoso en la Ciudad de Panamá. (*era)
  2. Cuando yo era niño, los viajes a la playa __________ muy divertidos. (*eran)
  3. Las tiendas en el centro commercial __________ grandes. (*eran)
  4. En esos tiempos, yo ___________ un turista joven. (*era)
  5. Durante las vacaciones, mis amigos y yo __________ felices. (*éramos)

Estar-to be

Yo estaba Nosotros estábamos
Tú estabas Vosotros estabáis
Usted estaba Ustedes estaban
Él estaba Ellos estaban
Ella estaba Ellas estaban

Activity 2- Fill in the blanks. Please fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘estar’ in the imperfect tense.

  1. Los turistas ____________ en el mercado buscando recuerdos típicos de Panamá. (*estaban)
  2. Yo ______________ cansado después de caminar por todas las tiendas del centro commercial. (*estaba)
  3. Durante el viaje, nosotros siempre _____________ en la playa cuando viajábamos. (*estábamos)
  4. Las maletas _______________ en la habitación mientras vistábamos en el museo. (*estaban)
  5. Tú _____________ muy emocionado cuando visitabas los centros comerciales grandes. (*estabas)

Activity 3- Fill in the blanks with the correct form of either ‘ser’ or ‘estar’.

  1. El mercado de Panamá __________ muy importante. (*era)
  2. Durante las vacaciones, mis amigos y yo siempre _______________ en la playa. (*estábamos)
  3. Las tiendas del centro commercial ____________ grandes y bonitas. (*eran)
  4. Los turistas _____________ en el museo por la tarde. (*estaban)
  5. Yo ______________ leyendo un libro en la playa. (estaba)
  6. En mi enfancia, mi abuela ___________ muy buena con los turistas que vistaban su pueblo. (*era)
  7. Cada día, los turistas _______________ en el restaurante. (*estaban)
  8. Nosotros ______________ en el hotel mientras mis padres andaban por el pueblo. (*estábamos)
  9. Los vendedores ________________ muy amables con los turistas. (*eran)
  10. Ellos _________________ enojados cuando cancelaron su vuelo. (*estaban)

Activity 4

Activity 4- Please write three sentences using the verb ‘ser’ in the imperfect and three sentences using the verb ‘estar’ in the imperfect. After you have written the six sentences, please present your sentences to the class.

 

Irregular verbs in the Imperfect Tense

In Spanish, there are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense: ‘ir’, ‘ser’ and ‘ver’.  These verbs are important because they are used frequently when talking about the past. For example, ‘ir’ helps to describe where people used to go and ‘ver’ helps to express what we used to see or watch. These verbs are important because they allow speakers to share memories in everyday conversations. Memorizing their use gives speakers a strong foundation for speaking confidently about the unfinished past in Spanish.

Infinitive Meaning in the imperfect Conjugations
Ir-to go Used to go/ was going Yo iba

Tú ibas

Usted iba

Él iba

Ella iba

 Nosotros íbamos

Vosotros ibais

Ustedes iban

Ellos iban

Ellas iban
Ver-to see Used to see/was seeing Yo veía

Tú veías

Usted veía

Él veía

Ella veía

 Nosotros veíamos

Vosotros veíais

Ustedes veían

Ellos veían

Ellas veían

Activity 1-Fill in the Blanks- Please fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘ir’ or ‘ver’.

  1. Cuando era niño, yo siempre ______________ a Panamá co mi familia para visitar a mis parientes. (*iba)
  2. Tú ______________ muchas películas cuando eras joven. (*veías)
  3. Nosotros ______________ a la playa todas las mañanas durante nuestras vacaciones. (*ibamos)
  4. Los turistas ______________ muchas obras famosas en los museos. (*veían)
  5. Cada verano, ustedes _____________ al mercado para comprar la comida. (*iban)

Activity 2- Fill in the Blanks- Complete the sentences with the correct conjugation in the imperfect tense.

  1. Cuando era joven, yo siempre _____________ (viajar) a con mi familia. (*viajaba)
  2. Tú _________________( asistir) a ferias y mercados locales cada verano. (*asistías)
  3. Nosotros ________________(subir) al mirador (viewpoint) para ver la ciudad. (*subíamos)
  4. Mi padre ______________ (conducir) por las calles del centro para llegar a la casa de la abuela. (*conducía)
  5. Ellos siempre ______________ (quedarse) en hotels cerca de la playa durante las vacaciones. (*se quedaban)
  6. Cada mañana, nosotros ________________ (ir) al mercado a comprar vegetales y frutas. (íbamos)
  7. Las tiendas en el aeropuerto ____________ (ser) grandes y modernas. (*eran)
  8. Los turistas __________________ (estar) emocionados mientras caminaban por la calles de la ciudad. (*estaban)
  9. Yo _______________ (ver) a muchos de mis familiares en Panamá. (*veía)
  10. Tú siempre _________________ los mejores restaurantes. (*elegías)

Activity 3

Using the imperfect tense, please write a 10-sentence paragraph describing an event from your childhood. After you have 10 sentences, find a partner and read them your paragraph. Make any corrections that you need and then present the paragraph to the class

Using the Preterite Tense and the Imperfect Tense Together

In Spanish the preterite tense and the imperfect tense are often used together when talking about the past. The imperfect tense is used to describe what was happening, what things were like or repeated actions in the past. The preterite tense is used for specific actions that happened once or had a clear beginning and end. When they are used together, the imperfect gives the background or setting, and the preterite tells the main action or interruption.  For example,  ‘Yo caminaba por el mercado cuando vi una tienda interesante’ (I was walking through the market when I saw an interesting store) Here, ‘caminaba’ which is in the imperfect, describes what was going on, and ‘vi’ which is in the preterite tense shows the specific action that happened. Understanding how to use these two tenses together is important because this is how the language is spoken naturally.

It is important to note that both the preterite tense and the imperfect tense are both past tenses.  And, for that reason, how they are used is really up to the speaker. In some instances, either the preterite or the imperfect, must be used in order for the grammatical integrity of the sentence. However, in most instances, theuse of either tense would be grammatically correct.  For example, in the sentence:

Cuando yo _________________ (llegar) al mercado, muchas personas

____________( caminar) por la calle.

There are a variety of options of how a speaker can communicate this thought.

Cuando yo llegué al mercado, muchas personas caminaron por la calle. (When I arrived to the market, many people walked on the street)

 
Cuando yo llegué al mercado, muchas personas caminaban por la calle.

 

 (When I arrived to the market, many people were walking on the street)
Cuando yo llegaba al mercado, muchas personas caminaron por la calle.

 

 When I was arriving at the market, many people walked on the street)
Cuando yo llegaba al mercado, muchas personas caminaban por la calle. When I was arriving at the market, many people were walking on the street

 

When using the preterite and the imperfect tenses together, rather than thinking that there is a right or wrong way to use them, it is more constructive to think how the speaker wants to express their thoughts. In the four examples above, there is no sentence that is ‘more’ correct than any other. It really depends on how the speaker wants to express their thoughts.

Below is a a visual representation of how the imperfect and the preterite work together in speech. The imperfect tense is represented by the long black line while the black dots represent the preterite.

Below are some phrases that are helpful when expressing thoughts with the imperfect tense and the preterite tense

De repente- suddenly De pronto-suddenly En ese momento-In that moment
Y luego- and later En ese instante-in that instant Cuando-when

Below are some examples of how the imperfect and the preterite and used together in phrases.

Nosotros estabamos (imperfect) conduciendo por la ciudad y empezó (preterite) a llover.

We were driving through the city, and it started to rain.

Los turistas caminaban (imperfect) por el pueblo y de pronto entraron (preterite) a un restaurante porque tenían (imperfect) mucha hambre.

The tourists were walking through the town and suddenly they entered a restaurant because they were so hungry.

María y Neli estaban (imperfect) hablando con el vendedor y en ese momento entró (preterite) José con Manuel que estaban (imperfect) paseando por el mercado.

María and Neli were talking to the salesman and in that moment, José entered with Manuel who were taking a walk in the market.

Activity 1- Fill in the Blanks- Please fill in the blanks with the words in the word bank.

Word Bank
me desperté me encontré tenía compré tomaba corrían
llamó jugaban salimos vimos caminamos

 

Ayer, yo ____(*me desperté)_____muy temprano porque ___(*tenía)____mucho que hacer. Mietras yo ____(*tomaba)_______el desayuno, mi hermano ____(llamó)________por teléfono. Después, nosotros _____(*salimos)_____de la casa y _____(*caminamos)____ al parque. Allí, ___(*vimos)_____mucho niños que ___(*jugaban)_____ y los perros que ___(*corrían)_____ detrás de las pelotas. Más tarde, yo _____(*compré)____ un helado y ___me encontré______con mi amiga Carla.

Activity 2

Write a 10 sentence paragraph of an event that has happened in the past. Use the imperfect and the preterite together in the sentences. After writing the paragraph, join a partner and read your event out loud. Then, read your paragraph out loud to the class.

Cultura-Panamá

Panamá has an extensive and vibrant history. The region was originally inhabited by several indigenous groups including the Guna, Ngäbe-Buglé, Emberá and Wounaan peoples.  These communities developed complex societies with their own languages, traditions and art forms. Today, these indigenous languages and cultures are still preserved especially in regions like the Guna Yala archipelago. In 1501, Spanish explorers arrived in Panama and were attracted to its strategic location and potential wealth. By 1519, Panama City was founded becoming a key stop for Spanish ships transporting gold and silver from South America to Europe. The country remained under Spanish rule for nearly three centuries which influenced the language, religion, architecture, and legal system. Later, Panama became part of Colombia. Panama gained full independence in 1903.

Panama is known for its diverse landscapes, from tropical rainforests to sparkling coastlines. In the northern part of the country, the Bocas del Toro archipelago is known for its turquoise waters, corral reefs and diverse wild life, making it a paradise for nature lovers. The San Blas Islands (Guna Yala) have pristine beaches that are carefully maintained by the Guna people, displaying both natural beauty and cultural heritage. In the highlands, Boquete is celebrated for its coffee plantations, lush mountains, and cool climate. The capital, Panamá City, combines modern skyscrapers with the colonial history of Casco Viejo which create a space with a rich mix of history and contemporary life. Darien National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site that presents an incredible array of wildlife and untouched rainforest.

What Panamá is best known for throughout the world is the Panama Canal. This Canal is one of the most important engineering feats in the world. Opened in 1914, the canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans which allowed ships to transfer oceans instead of having to round the entirety of South America. Allowing ships to travel quickly between the two oceans has had a major impact on global trade and maritime commerce.

Today, Panamá plays a key role in the global economy because of the Panama Canal along with its banking sector, shipping industry and tourism. Panamá is a hub for international trade, finance and cultural exchange. Its location continues to make it vital in connecting the Americas and the world.

Sandra’s Letter

Below is a letter to you from Sandra. She is a make-believe student from Panamá and she is writing to you as a pen-pal. Read her letter and then write a response to her. Take the letter from Sandra as an example of how your letter should read. In the letter, please include the use of the preterite tense, the imperfect tense, double object pronouns, the use of ‘por’ and ‘para’, and a command form.

Letter from Sandra:

¡Hola! Me llamo Sandra y soy de Panamá. Quiero contarte un poco sobre mi vida aquí. Yo estudio en la Universidad de Panamá y todos los días voy a clase por la mañana. Cuando estoy en la universidad, salgo con mis amigos y nos divertimos mucho. Por ejemplo, el fin de semana pasado fuimos a Bocas del Toro y nadamos y caminamos por la playa.

Mi celebración favorita en Panamá es el Carnaval. Cuando era niña, siempre bailaba en las calles, y mis padres me daban dulces y regalos. El año pasado, fui al Carnival con mis amigos. ¡Fue increíble!

Si visitas a Panamá te recomiendo que visites el Casco Viejo. Y no olvides de tomar muchas fotos. También, camina por los mercados y prueba comida típica porque es deliciosa.

¿De dónde eres, tú? ¿Qué haces con tus amigos? ¿Cuál es tu celebración favorita?

Escríbeme cuando puedas.

Hasta pronto,

Sandra

 

License

Introduction to Spanish Copyright © by druizfebrega; Alex Sousa; and jeremyrobinson. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book