IMPERFECT TENSE: An introduction to conjugations (imperfecto)

Summary

In this video, the focus is on understanding the imperfect tense in Spanish, a past tense used to describe ongoing or habitual actions. The key elements covered include the regular verb endings for AR, ER, and IR verbs, along with the three irregular verbs: 'ir,' 'ser,' and 'ver.' The video emphasizes the importance of memorizing the verb endings and recognizing the lack of stem changes in this tense. It also explains how to translate sentences in the imperfect tense, offering multiple translation options such as 'used to,' 'always spoke,' and 'would speak.'

Takeaways

• 😀 The imperfect tense is a past tense used to describe actions that used to happen or states in the past.
• 😀 The first step when learning a new tense is to memorize the verb endings, as they follow a consistent pattern.
• 😀 For regular **-AR** verbs, the endings are: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos (with an accent), and -aban.
• 😀 For regular **-ER** and **-IR** verbs, the endings are: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, and -ían (each with an accent).
• 😀 In the imperfect tense, **there are no stem changers**, which makes conjugating regular verbs simpler.
• 😀 There are only **three irregular verbs** in the imperfect tense: **ser** (to be), **ir** (to go), and **ver** (to see).
• 😀 The conjugation of **ser** (to be) in the imperfect tense is: era, eras, era, éramos, and eran.
• 😀 The conjugation of **ir** (to go) in the imperfect tense is: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, and iban.
• 😀 The conjugation of **ver** (to see) in the imperfect tense is: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, and veían.
• 😀 The imperfect tense can be translated in three ways: 'used to' (e.g., 'We used to speak in class'), 'would' (e.g., 'We would speak'), or simply in the past (e.g., 'We spoke in class').

Q & A

What is the imperfect tense used for?

The imperfect tense is used to describe actions in the past that were habitual, ongoing, or not completed at a specific point in time.

What are the endings for regular -AR verbs in the imperfect tense?

The endings for regular -AR verbs in the imperfect tense are: Yo: -aba, Tú: -abas, Él/Ella/Ud.: -aba, Nosotros: -ábamos (with an accent on the 'á'), Vosotros: -abais, Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: -aban.

How are the endings for regular -ER and -IR verbs in the imperfect tense different from -AR verbs?

The endings for regular -ER and -IR verbs in the imperfect tense are: Yo: -ía, Tú: -ías, Él/Ella/Ud.: -ía, Nosotros: -íamos, Vosotros: -íais, Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: -ían. The key difference is the use of -ía instead of -aba for the first person singular and third person singular forms.

Which form of regular -AR verbs in the imperfect tense has an accent?

The only form of regular -AR verbs in the imperfect tense that has an accent is the Nosotros form: -ábamos.

Are there any stem changers in the imperfect tense?

No, there are no stem changers in the imperfect tense, which makes conjugation easier.

What are the three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense?

The three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense are: Ir (to go), Ser (to be), and Ver (to see).

How do you conjugate the verb 'ir' (to go) in the imperfect tense?

The conjugation of 'ir' in the imperfect tense is: Yo: iba, Tú: ibas, Él/Ella/Ud.: iba, Nosotros: íbamos, Vosotros: ibais, Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: iban.

What is the conjugation of the verb 'ser' (to be) in the imperfect tense?

The conjugation of 'ser' in the imperfect tense is: Yo: era, Tú: eras, Él/Ella/Ud.: era, Nosotros: éramos, Vosotros: erais, Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: eran.

What is the conjugation of the verb 'ver' (to see) in the imperfect tense?

The conjugation of 'ver' in the imperfect tense is: Yo: veía, Tú: veías, Él/Ella/Ud.: veía, Nosotros: veíamos, Vosotros: veíais, Ellos/Ellas/Uds.: veían.

What are some possible translations of the sentence 'We always spoke in class' in the imperfect tense?

The sentence 'We always spoke in class' can be translated as: 'Siempre hablábamos en clase.' You could also translate it as 'We always used to speak in class' or 'We would always speak in class.'