FDS - Gramática: El Imperfecto (Lesson)

Gramática: El Imperfecto

General uses of the imperfect, background for another past action, yo trablajaba cuando llegó mi padre,telling time, Eran las dos le la tarde, actions that were not completed, Ella cantaba, habitual actions, yo jubaba al béisbol todos los días, describing the past, Era un hombre alto, Age, Tenía dieciséis añosWhat is the imperfect? The Spanish imperfect tense (el imperfecto) is used to describe past habitual actions or to talk about what someone was doing when they were interrupted by something else. The tense is used for past actions that are not seen as completed. The use of the imperfect tense implies that the past action did not have a definite beginning or a definite end. The imperfect tells when — in general, an action occurred.

Clues to Help You

When deciding whether or not to use the imperfect, keep in mind it is usually associated with clues/phrases that describe the frequency of past actions which will help you in your selection. These clues refer to and/or describe the frequency of past actions

The following is a partial list of the most commonly used phrases in Spanish that signal the use of the "Imperfect".

a menudo: often

a veces: sometimes

cada año: every year

cada día: every day

con frecuencia: frequently

constantemente: constantly

de vez en cuando: from time to time

en aquella época: at that time

frecuentemente: frequently

generalmente: usually

muchas veces: many times

mucho: a lot

nunca: never

por un rato: for a while

siempre: always

tantas veces: so many times

todas las semanas: every week

todo el tiempo: all the time

todos los días: every day

varias veces: several times

El Imperfecto Regular: Verbos de -ar, -er, -ir

View the presentations below which introduce the conjugations of additional past tense in Spanish called the imperfect. Note the accents! Take notes as you view the material as you will be responsible for the content. Be sure your speakers are turned up!

 

Please view this video on imperfect tense below.

After watching the introduction video on the Imperfect tense, below you will find further explanations broken down into sections to help make this easier to understand.

Imperfect AR Verbs

View the Imperfect Ar verbs video below.

Regular AR Verbs in Imperfect Song!

Here is a video with a song to help you remember verbs in the imperfect tense.

Imperfect Regular -ER and -IR Verbs

Check out this video on imperfect regular -er and -ir verbs.

Regular -ER and -IR Verbs in Imperfect Song!

This video has a song that will help you remember -er and -ir verbs in the imperfect tense.

 

Complete the online activities below using the regular imperfect to reflect on the presentations you just viewed. A chart is provided to help you decide on the correct verb form for each item in the activity. Keep in mind there are no stem changes in the imperfect tense, and 'había' is the imperfect form of 'hay' (the infinitive form is 'haber').

 

Chart with Spanish regular imperfect verb endings

Imperfect Review

Please complete the activity below.

El Imperfecto Irregular: IR, Ser, y Ver

View the presentation below that contains three irregular infinitives in the imperfect tense. Pay careful attention to where the accents are placed as they are emphasized by the pronunciation. Take notes as you view the material as you will be responsible for the content. Be sure your speakers are turned up.

Please view the video below.

 

After watching the introduction video on the Irregular Imperfect tense, below you will find further explanations broken down into sections to help make this easier to understand.

View this video on irregular imperfect tense.

 

This video below provides another song to memorize, this time for imperfect tense.

 

 

Ir, ser, and ver are the only irregular verbs in the imperfect tense in Spanish.

Chart of Spanish irregular imperfect endings

 

Complete the inline activity below using the irregular imperfect to reflect on the presentations you just viewed. A chart is provided to help you decide on the correct verb form for each item in the activity.

Click here to download a study guide for your notes. Links to an external site.

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.