The ImperfectThe Imperfect

another way of another way of talking about the pasttalking about the past

Remember this?Remember this? We’ve already learned one way of talking We’ve already learned one way of talking

about the past: about the past: the preteritethe preterite. It’s used to . It’s used to describe describe singlesingle actions that actions that startedstarted and and endedended in the past. in the past.

– Examples: Examples: – Tomaron el examen el lunes pasado. Tomaron el examen el lunes pasado.

Gabriela recibió la mejor nota. Gabriela recibió la mejor nota.– El año pasado, fui a Costa Rica.El año pasado, fui a Costa Rica.– Pedro se levantó, fue al baño, y se Pedro se levantó, fue al baño, y se

duchó.duchó.

What about…?What about…?… actions that happen more … actions that happen more

than once in the past?than once in the past?

I used to live in Chicago. I used to live in Chicago. Every Christmas the whole Every Christmas the whole

family would get together for a family would get together for a big dinner.big dinner.

Or how about…?Or how about…?… actions that started in the … actions that started in the past but didn’t finish (as far as past but didn’t finish (as far as we know): we know): I I was walkingwas walking to work when I to work when I saw an accident. saw an accident. She was tired and hungry.She was tired and hungry.

The imperfectThe imperfectThese ideas – These ideas –

-actions repeated in the past -actions repeated in the past -unfinished actions in the past -unfinished actions in the past -descriptions about the past-descriptions about the past

are expressed using a different are expressed using a different verb tense, called the “imperfect” verb tense, called the “imperfect”

Uses of the imperfectUses of the imperfectUse the imperfect to express actions, Use the imperfect to express actions, conditions, and events that: conditions, and events that: *were in progress at some time in the *were in progress at some time in the past (“was …ing”). past (“was …ing”). *occurred repeatedly in the past *occurred repeatedly in the past (“used to” or “would”). (“used to” or “would”). *were anticipated or planned (“was *were anticipated or planned (“was going to”)going to”)

Just DUWIT Just DUWIT

D – description D – description U – Used to U – Used to W – was, were…-ingW – was, were…-ingI – Inside verbs (querer, saber, I – Inside verbs (querer, saber, conocer, pensar)conocer, pensar)T – Time/Tiempo (weather) T – Time/Tiempo (weather)

OK, what are the forms?OK, what are the forms?The imperfect tense is probably the The imperfect tense is probably the easiest form to learn because there easiest form to learn because there are only three irregulars. are only three irregulars.

There are There are twotwo sets of endings… sets of endings… -AR:-AR: add add –aba–aba to the base to the base ER/IR:ER/IR: add add –ía–ía to the base to the base

Some examplesSome examplesCantarCantar HablarHablar

cantcantabaaba hablhablabaabacantcantabaabass hablhablabaabass

cantcantabaaba hablhablabaabacantcantábaábamos mos hablhabláábabamosmoscantcantabaabaisis hablhablabaabaisiscantcantabaabann hablhablabaabann

How about for –ER & -IR?How about for –ER & -IR? vivirvivir ComerComervivvivíaía comcomíaíavivvivíaíass comcomíaíass vivvivíaía com comíaía vivvivíaíamos mos comcomíaíamosmosvivvivíaíais comis comíaíaisis vivvivíaían n comcomíaíann

Let’s try a few forms!Let’s try a few forms!Estar: Estar:

yo _________ yo _________ tú _________ tú _________ ella ________ ella ________ nosotros _________nosotros _________vosotros ________ vosotros ________ ellos __________ellos __________

estabaestabaestabasestabas

estabaestabaestábamosestábamosestabaisestabais

estabanestaban

Volver: Volver: yo _________ yo _________ tú _________ tú _________ ella ________ ella ________ nosotros _________nosotros _________vosotros ________ vosotros ________ ellos __________ellos __________

volvíavolvíavolvíasvolvías

volvíavolvíavolvíamosvolvíamosvolvíaisvolvíais

volvíanvolvían

Volver is a stem-changing verb in the present, but stem-changing verbs don’t change in the imperfect!

conocer: conocer: yo _________ yo _________ tú _________ tú _________ ella ________ ella ________ nosotros _________nosotros _________vosotros ________ vosotros ________ ellos __________ellos __________

conocíaconocíaconocíasconocías

conocíaconocíaconocíamosconocíamosconocíaisconocíais

conocíanconocían

Conocer is irregular in the present, but not in the imperfect!

levantarse: levantarse: yo _________ yo _________ tú _________ tú _________ ella ________ ella ________ nosotros _________nosotros _________vosotros ________ vosotros ________ ellos __________ellos __________

me levantabame levantabate levantabaste levantabas

se levantabase levantabanos levantábamosnos levantábamosos levantabaisos levantabais

se levantabanse levantaban

Reflexive verbs work the same as in the present – don’t forget to put the reflexive pronoun in front of the verb!

Ir, ser, verIr, ser, veririr serser ver ver ibaiba eraera veía veía ibasibas eraseras veías veías ibaiba eraera veía veía íbamosíbamos éramos éramos veíamos veíamos ibaisibais eraiserais veíaisveíaisibaniban eraneran veían veían

That’s all, folks – no other irregular That’s all, folks – no other irregular imperfect formsimperfect forms

Phrases that set off the imperfectPhrases that set off the imperfect

SiempreSiempre Todo el tiempoTodo el tiempo Cada lunesCada lunes Muchas vecesMuchas veces MientrasMientras Cuando era Cuando era

niño…niño…

Cuando tenía Cuando tenía ____ años…____ años…

De niDe niñoño GeneralmenteGeneralmente Any other word Any other word

that may set that may set off a continual off a continual motion in the motion in the past!past!