The Spanish Imperfect Tense
The imperfect describes the past as it was, not as a finished event. Use it for habits, descriptions, ages, and the background to a story. It is also the easiest past tense to form: only three verbs are irregular.
Quick answer
- -ar verbs use -aba: hablaba, hablabas, hablaba, hablábamos, hablaban
- -er/-ir verbs use -ía: comía, vivías, escribía, comíamos, vivían
- Only three verbs are irregular: ser (era), ir (iba), ver (veía)
How to form the imperfect
Drop the -ar, -er, or -ir and add the endings. Notice that -er and -ir verbs share the same endings, and that only the nosotros form of -ar verbs has an accent.
| Person | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| tú | hablabas | comías | vivías |
| él, ella, usted | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| nosotros | hablábamos | comíamos | vivíamos |
| ellos, ustedes | hablaban | comían | vivían |
Examples
- Cuando era niño, hablaba con mi abuela todos los días.When I was a child, I talked to my grandmother every day.A habit in the past.
- Mis padres vivían en Monterrey.My parents used to live in Monterrey.A past situation.
- Comíamos juntos los domingos.We used to eat together on Sundays.Repeated action.
The three irregular verbs
Only three verbs are irregular: ser, ir, and ver. Learn them, and you know the whole tense.
| Person | ser | ir | ver |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | era | iba | veía |
| tú | eras | ibas | veías |
| él, ella, usted | era | iba | veía |
| nosotros | éramos | íbamos | veíamos |
| ellos, ustedes | eran | iban | veían |
Examples
- De niña, iba a la playa cada verano.As a girl, I went to the beach every summer.Ir.
- Eran las ocho de la noche.It was eight at night.Ser for time.
- Veíamos la tele después de cenar.We used to watch TV after dinner.Ver.
When to use the imperfect
Use the imperfect for: habits (siempre jugaba), descriptions (era alto), ages and time (tenía diez años), feelings and states, and background for something that happened. Words like siempre, todos los días, a menudo, and mientras point to the imperfect.
Examples
- Tenía diez años cuando nos mudamos.I was ten when we moved.Age.
- Hacía mucho frío y llovía.It was very cold and raining.Weather as background.
- Mientras cocinaba, escuchaba música.While I cooked, I listened to music.Two actions in progress.
- Siempre jugábamos en la calle.We always played in the street.Habit.
Imperfect and preterite together
In a story, the imperfect sets the scene and the preterite tells what happened: Llovía cuando llegué. (It was raining when I arrived.) See our lesson on preterite vs. imperfect for a full guide.
Examples
- Estaba cansado cuando llegó mi hermano.I was tired when my brother arrived.Background plus event.
- Dormía cuando sonó el teléfono.I was sleeping when the phone rang.Interrupted action.
Spanish around the world
- The imperfect works the same in all countries. In some regions, people use the imperfect for polite requests, like Quería pedirle un favor (I wanted to ask you a favor).
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Yo hablava mucho.
Correct: Yo hablaba mucho.
The imperfect ending is -aba, spelled with a b.
Incorrect: Nosotros hablabamos.
Correct: Nosotros hablábamos.
The nosotros form of -ar verbs needs an accent.
Incorrect: Yo ser alto de niño.
Correct: Yo era alto de niño.
Ser becomes era in the imperfect.
Incorrect: Ayer yo comía pizza. (one finished event)
Correct: Ayer comí pizza.
A finished event uses the preterite.
Remember the endings
- -ar: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -aban.
- -er/-ir: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -ían.
- Only ser, ir, and ver are irregular.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘used to’ mean in Spanish?
Use the imperfect: Vivía en Lima. means I used to live in Lima or I lived in Lima.
Is the imperfect always translated with ‘was’?
No. It can mean was, used to, would, or was -ing, depending on context.
Which words signal the imperfect?
siempre, todos los días, a veces, mientras, cada verano are common clues.
What is the difference from the preterite?
The preterite shows a finished event. The imperfect shows an ongoing, repeated, or background state.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
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Keep learning
Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tenses Explained
Two Spanish past tenses, one simple idea: the imperfect sets the scene and the preterite moves the story forward.
A2Irregular Preterite in Spanish
Fui, tuve, hice, dije. The irregular past verbs you hear every day, grouped by pattern.
A2Spanish Present Progressive: Estar + -ando / -iendo
Say what is happening right now: estoy comiendo, estamos estudiando. Learn how to form it and when not to use it.