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El Imperfecto

Imperfect Tense — Charts, Uses, Contrast with Preterite & Quizzes

📊 Charts
🎯 When to Use It
⚔️ vs. Preterite
🎮 Quiz: Choose
✏️ Quiz: Type It
📋 Verb List
📚 Stories

What Is the Imperfect?

The past tense for ongoing, repeated, habitual, or background actions — the "used to" and "was -ing" tense.

The Core Idea

If the preterite is a photograph (one frozen moment, complete and done), the imperfect is a video still playing — an action that was ongoing, repeated, or had no definite end.

Cuando era niño, vivía en México.

When I was a child, I lived in Mexico. (both ongoing states — imperfect)

🔑 The Two Ending Families

This is the whole system. -AR verbs get -aba endings. -ER and -IR verbs get -ía endings. No other tense looks like this — so when you see -aba or -ía on a verb, you're always looking at the imperfect.

-AR verbs → -ABA endings

yo-aba
tú-abas
él/ella-aba
nosotros-ábamos
ellos-aban

-ER and -IR verbs → -ÍA endings

yo-ía
tú-ías
él/ella-ía
nosotros-íamos
ellos-ían

-AR Verbs: The -ABA Endings

The -aba ending is the signature you already spotted. Every regular -AR verb follows this exactly.

Pronoun hablar trabajar caminar vivir
yohablabatrabajabacaminabavivía
túhablabastrabajabascaminabasvivías
él/ellahablabatrabajabacaminabavivía
nosotroshablábamostrabajábamoscaminábamosvivíamos
elloshablabantrabajabancaminabanvivían
Note: The yo and él/ella forms are identical (-aba). Context usually makes it clear who you mean. The nosotros form gets an accent: -ábamos.

-ER and -IR Verbs: The -ÍA Endings

This is what you saw on WordReference for comer — comía is the imperfect, not the preterite. Both -ER and -IR verbs use the exact same -ía endings.

Pronoun comer (-ER) beber (-ER) vivir (-IR) escribir (-IR)
yocomíabebíavivíaescribía
túcomíasbebíasvivíasescribías
él/ellacomíabebíavivíaescribía
nosotroscomíamosbebíamosvivíamosescribíamos
elloscomíanbebíanvivíanescribían
Every single form of -ER/-IR imperfect has an accent on the í. That accent is what makes -ía two syllables (ee-ah), not one. It's also how you know it's imperfect and not something else.

The Only 3 Irregular Verbs

One of the great gifts of the imperfect — only three verbs in the entire language are irregular. Memorize these and you're done.

serto be
yoera
túeras
él/ellaera
nosotroséramos
elloseran
irto go
yoiba
túibas
él/ellaiba
nosotrosíbamos
ellosiban
verto see
yoveía
túveías
él/ellaveía
nosotrosveíamos
ellosveían
Compare to the preterite which has dozens of irregulars. The imperfect is the easy past tense. Master these three and you have zero irregular verbs left to worry about.

Each story uses both tenses naturally. Verbs are color-coded in practice mode.

Teal = imperfect  ·  Gold = preterite
Story 1 of 50

When Do You Use the Imperfect?

Four situations. Learn to recognize them and you'll always know when to reach for -aba and -ía.

1
Habits & Routines "used to"

Something you did regularly or repeatedly in the past. The English signal is "used to."

De niño, comía cereal todos los días.As a child, I used to eat cereal every day.
Íbamos a la playa cada verano.We used to go to the beach every summer.
Ella siempre llegaba tarde al trabajo.She always used to arrive late to work.
Cuando era joven, tocaba la guitarra.When I was young, I used to play the guitar.
Mi abuela cocinaba tamales los domingos.My grandmother used to make tamales on Sundays.
Nunca estudiaba antes de los exámenes.I never used to study before exams.
2
Was / Were -ing in progress

An action that was already happening — ongoing in the background — when something else occurred.

Dormía cuando sonó el teléfono.I was sleeping when the phone rang.
Estudiaba cuando llegaron mis amigos.I was studying when my friends arrived.
Llovía mucho esa tarde.It was raining a lot that afternoon.
¿Qué hacías cuando te llamé?What were you doing when I called you?
Manejaba por la autopista cuando vi el accidente.I was driving on the highway when I saw the accident.
Ella hablaba con su jefe cuando entré.She was talking to her boss when I walked in.
Los niños jugaban afuera mientras yo cocinaba.The kids were playing outside while I was cooking.
3
Descriptions & States background info

What things looked like, felt like, or were like. Age, time, weather, emotions, physical states, mental states. These weren't events — they were conditions.

Tenía doce años.I was twelve years old.
Hacía frío y el cielo estaba nublado.It was cold and the sky was cloudy.
Era una casa muy pequeña pero bonita.It was a very small but pretty house.
Me sentía muy cansado esa noche.I was feeling very tired that night.
Ella tenía el pelo largo y los ojos verdes.She had long hair and green eyes.
El mercado era enorme y olía a flores.The market was huge and smelled of flowers.
Eran las tres de la mañana.It was three in the morning.
No quería ir pero no tenía opción.I didn't want to go but I had no choice.
4
Setting the Scene storytelling

Background information in a story — painting the picture before the action happens. The imperfect sets the stage; the preterite brings on the action.

Era de noche y llovía mucho.It was nighttime and it was raining hard.
El restaurante estaba lleno y había música.The restaurant was full and there was music playing.
La calle estaba vacía y no había nadie.The street was empty and there was nobody around.
Todos dormían cuando empezó el temblor.Everyone was sleeping when the earthquake started.
Era un día normal hasta que sonó la alarma.It was a normal day until the alarm went off.
⏰ Time Words That Signal Imperfect
siemprealways
nuncanever
todos los díasevery day
cada semanaevery week
generalmenteusually / generally
normalmentenormally
a vecessometimes
de niño/aas a child
cuando era jovenwhen I was young
mientraswhile
frecuentementefrequently
en aquellos tiemposin those days
antesbefore / used to
por lo generalgenerally / as a rule
cada vez queevery time that
de vez en cuandofrom time to time
Quick test: Ask yourself — could you say "used to ___" or "was/were ___-ing" in English? If yes → imperfect. If it's a single completed event ("I ate," "she called," "we arrived") → preterite.

🎬 The Classic Story Pattern

In real Spanish storytelling, the two tenses work together. Imperfect sets the scene; preterite tells what happened.

Story 1 — The dark night

Era una noche oscura. Llovía y hacía mucho frío. Caminaba sola por la calle cuando de repente escuché un ruido. Me detuve y miré hacia atrás.

It was a dark night. It was raining and very cold. I was walking alone down the street when suddenly I heard a noise. I stopped and looked back.

Story 2 — The old neighborhood

Cuando era niño, vivíamos en un barrio tranquilo. Todos los vecinos se conocían. Los niños jugaban en la calle hasta que oscurecía. Un día, una familia nueva llegó y todo cambió.

When I was a child, we lived in a quiet neighborhood. All the neighbors knew each other. The kids would play in the street until it got dark. One day, a new family arrived and everything changed.

Story 3 — The accident

Era domingo por la mañana. Había poco tráfico y el sol brillaba. Manejaba tranquilamente cuando un perro salió corriendo a la calle. Frené de golpe y perdí el control del carro por un momento.

It was Sunday morning. There was little traffic and the sun was shining. I was driving calmly when a dog ran out into the street. I braked suddenly and lost control of the car for a moment.

Teal = imperfect (scene, background, ongoing)  ·  Gold = preterite (events that moved the story forward)

Imperfect vs. Preterite — Side by Side

Same verbs, same people — the tense changes the meaning completely. Each pair shows the same situation in both tenses.

PreteriteComí una pizza.I ate a pizza.specific, completed
ImperfectComía pizza los viernes.I used to eat pizza on Fridays.habit, repeated
PreteriteLlamó a las tres.She called at three.one call
ImperfectLlamaba mucho.She used to call a lot.routine
PreteriteVivió en Madrid dos años.He lived in Madrid for two years.defined period, ended
ImperfectVivía en Madrid.He was living in Madrid.background state
PreteriteFui al mercado.I went to the market.one trip
ImperfectIba al mercado cada semana.I used to go every week.habit
PreteriteTuve miedo.I got scared.reaction, moment
ImperfectTenía miedo.I was afraid.ongoing feeling
PreteriteSupe la verdad.I found out the truth.moment of discovery
ImperfectSabía la verdad.I knew the truth.ongoing knowledge
PreteriteQuise abrir la puerta.I tried to open the door.attempted
ImperfectQuería abrir la puerta.I wanted to open the door.desire, no attempt implied
PreteriteNo pude dormir.I failed to sleep.tried and failed
ImperfectNo podía dormir.I was unable to sleep.ongoing condition
PreteriteConocí a tu hermana.I met your sister.first meeting
ImperfectConocía a tu hermana.I knew your sister.already acquainted
PreteriteCostó cien pesos.It cost a hundred pesos.specific transaction
ImperfectCostaba cien pesos.It used to cost a hundred pesos.general price
PreteriteUn día comí cereal de desayuno.One day I ate cereal for breakfast.one specific morning
ImperfectDe niño, comía cereal todos los días.As a child, I used to eat cereal every day.childhood habit
PreteriteEse verano fuimos a la playa.That summer we went to the beach.one specific summer
ImperfectÍbamos a la playa cada verano.We used to go to the beach every summer.yearly routine
PreteriteAyer ella llegó tarde al trabajo.Yesterday she arrived late to work.one specific day
ImperfectElla siempre llegaba tarde al trabajo.She always used to arrive late to work.always, every day
PreteriteAprendí a tocar la guitarra ese año.I learned to play the guitar that year.completed learning
ImperfectCuando era joven, tocaba la guitarra.When I was young, I used to play the guitar.ongoing past hobby
PreteriteMi abuela preparó tamales para la Navidad.My grandmother made tamales for Christmas.one specific occasion
ImperfectMi abuela cocinaba tamales los domingos.My grandmother used to make tamales on Sundays.every Sunday, always
PreteriteNo estudié nada para ese examen.I didn't study anything for that exam.one specific exam
ImperfectNunca estudiaba antes de los exámenes.I never used to study before exams.never, as a pattern
PreteriteSonó el teléfono a medianoche.The phone rang at midnight.the ring — the event that happened
ImperfectDormía cuando sonó el teléfono.I was sleeping when the phone rang.the background — already in progress
PreteriteMis amigos llegaron a las diez.My friends arrived at ten.the arrival — completed event
ImperfectEstudiaba cuando llegaron mis amigos.I was studying when my friends arrived.studying — the background action
PreteriteEsa tarde llovió mucho.It rained a lot that afternoon.the rain as a completed event
ImperfectLlovía mucho esa tarde.It was raining a lot that afternoon.rain as ongoing background
PreteriteTe llamé pero no contestaste.I called you but you didn't answer.the call — completed
Imperfect¿Qué hacías cuando te llamé?What were you doing when I called you?what were you doing — background
PreteriteVi el accidente en la autopista.I saw the accident on the highway.seeing — completed moment
ImperfectManejaba por la autopista cuando vi el accidente.I was driving on the highway when I saw the accident.driving — background in progress
PreteriteEntré a la oficina sin tocar.I walked into the office without knocking.entering — the event
ImperfectElla hablaba con su jefe cuando entré.She was talking to her boss when I walked in.talking — already happening
PreteriteLos niños jugaron afuera toda la tarde.The kids played outside all afternoon.the whole activity, completed
ImperfectLos niños jugaban afuera mientras yo cocinaba.The kids were playing outside while I was cooking.both actions ongoing at same time
PreteriteCumplí doce años en julio.I turned twelve in July.turning twelve — the event
ImperfectTenía doce años.I was twelve years old.age as background state
PreteriteEsa tarde hizo mucho frío.It got very cold that afternoon.the cold arrived — a change
ImperfectHacía frío y el cielo estaba nublado.It was cold and the sky was cloudy.weather as background condition
PreteriteCompramos una casa pequeña.We bought a small house.buying — completed action
ImperfectEra una casa muy pequeña pero bonita.It was a very small but pretty house.description of how it was
PreteriteEsa noche me cansé mucho.That night I got very tired.getting tired — a change of state
ImperfectMe sentía muy cansado esa noche.I was feeling very tired that night.tiredness as ongoing state
PreteriteSe cortó el pelo y se lo tiñó.She cut her hair and dyed it.actions — completed events
ImperfectElla tenía el pelo largo y los ojos verdes.She had long hair and green eyes.physical description, how she looked
PreteriteFui al mercado y compré frutas.I went to the market and bought fruit.going and buying — events
ImperfectEl mercado era enorme y olía a flores.The market was huge and smelled of flowers.how the market was — description
PreteriteSe hizo tarde y nos fuimos.It got late and we left.getting late — a change
ImperfectEran las tres de la mañana.It was three in the morning.the time — background fact
PreteriteNo quise ir y me quedé en casa.I refused to go and stayed home.refusing — active decision
ImperfectNo quería ir pero no tenía opción.I didn't want to go but I had no choice.not wanting — ongoing feeling
PreteriteEsa noche llovió mucho.It rained a lot that night.the rain as a completed event
ImperfectEra de noche y llovía mucho.It was nighttime and it was raining hard.scene-setting — the backdrop
PreteriteLlegamos al restaurante y pedimos mesa.We arrived at the restaurant and asked for a table.arriving and asking — events
ImperfectEl restaurante estaba lleno y había música.The restaurant was full and there was music playing.setting the scene before the action
PreteriteCaminé por la calle y no vi a nadie.I walked down the street and saw nobody.walking and seeing — events
ImperfectLa calle estaba vacía y no había nadie.The street was empty and there was nobody around.describing the scene
PreteriteEmpezó el temblor a las tres de la mañana.The earthquake started at three in the morning.starting — the event that broke the calm
ImperfectTodos dormían cuando empezó el temblor.Everyone was sleeping when the earthquake started.sleeping — the calm background before
PreteriteSonó la alarma y todo cambió.The alarm went off and everything changed.the alarm — the event that interrupted
ImperfectEra un día normal hasta que sonó la alarma.It was a normal day until the alarm went off.normal day — the scene before it happened
Rule of thumb: "Used to" or "was doing" in English points to imperfect. A single completed action points to preterite. When both appear in the same sentence, imperfect is almost always the background and preterite is what actually happened.

Quiz — Choose the Correct Imperfect Form

Select the correct imperfect conjugation. You'll see an explanation after each answer.

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Quiz — Type the Imperfect Form

Type the correct form. Accent marks optional — both accepted.

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Full Imperfect Verb Drill Table

Click any verb to open its WordReference conjugation table. Filter by type.

VerbMeaningTypeyotúél/ellanosotrosellos