°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ

Notes:

1. The written lesson is below.
2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

In a previous lesson, you learned that the imperfect is used for past actions that are not seen as completed. Use of the imperfect tense implies that the past action did not have a definite beginning or a definite end. You also learned how to conjugate regular -ar verbs. In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate -er and -ir verbs, and become more familiar with the uses of the imperfect.

To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the imperfect, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

aba
abas
aba
á²ú²¹³¾´Ç²õ
abais
aban

To conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the imperfect, simply drop the ending (-er or -ir) and add one of the following:

í²¹
í²¹s
í²¹
í²¹mos
í²¹is
í²¹n

Here are all three regular imperfect verb forms together:

The imperfect is used for actions that were repeated habitually.

Almorzá²ú²¹³¾´Ç²õ juntos todos los dí²¹s.
We would lunch together every day.

Las señoras siempre charlaban por las mañanas.
The ladies would always chat in the mornings.

The imperfect is used for actions that “set the stage” for another action.

Yo leí²¹ cuando entró mi papá.
I was reading when my papa entered. (note that “entered” is preterite)

The imperfect is used for telling time and stating one’s age.

Eran las siete de la noche.
It was seven o’clock at night.

La niña tení²¹ cinco años.
The little girl was five years old.

The above examples all fall within our general rule for using the imperfect:

The imperfect is used for past actions that are not seen as completed.

Let’s add two more flashcards for regular -er and -ir verbs in the imperfect tense:

Verb Flashcards
Complete List

Imperfect: regular -er

-í²¹
-í²¹s
-í²¹

-í²¹mos
-í²¹is

-í²¹n

comí²¹, comí²¹s, comí²¹, comí²¹mos, comí²¹is, comí²¹n

Imperfect: regular -ir

-í²¹
-í²¹s
-í²¹

-í²¹mos
-í²¹is

-í²¹n

viví²¹, viví²¹s, viví²¹, viví²¹mos, viví²¹is, viví²¹n