What Is the Spanish Imperfect?
The Spanish imperfect (pretérito imperfecto) is a past tense used to describe what was happening, what used to happen, or what a past situation was like. It usually provides the background, habit, or ongoing context rather than presenting a completed event.
Example: Cuando era niño, iba a la playa todos los domingos. — When I was a child, I used to go to the beach every Sunday.
In this guide, you will learn:
- when to use the Spanish imperfect;
- the regular -ar, -er and -ir endings;
- the only three irregular verbs: ser, ir and ver;
- the difference between the imperfect and the preterite; and
- how to apply the rules in four free interactive exercises.
Spanish variety note: This guide includes the vosotros/vosotras forms used in Spain alongside ustedes and the informal vos common in El Salvador. In the imperfect, vos uses the same verb forms shown for tú: vos hablabas, vos comías, vos vivías.
If you need a broader overview first, read our guide to the Spanish past tenses. The short video below introduces the imperfect before you work through the rules and exercises.
When to Use the Spanish Imperfect
Use the imperfect when a past action or situation is viewed as ongoing, repeated, descriptive, or unfinished. The speaker is not focusing on its beginning or end.
1. Past habits and repeated actions
De pequeña, Ana leía antes de dormir. — As a child, Ana used to read before going to sleep.
Words such as siempre, normalmente, cada día, a menudo and todos los veranos often introduce habitual actions.
2. Descriptions and background information
La playa estaba tranquila y hacía calor. — The beach was calm, and it was hot.
Use the imperfect to describe people, places, circumstances, and the background of a story.
3. Time, age, and weather in the past
Eran las ocho. Teníamos veinte años. Llovía mucho. — It was eight o'clock. We were twenty. It was raining a lot.
4. An action that was in progress
Mientras estudiaba, sonó el teléfono. — While I was studying, the phone rang.
Here, estudiaba gives the ongoing background; sonó is the completed event that interrupts it.
5. Thoughts, feelings, and physical states
Quería descansar porque me sentía cansado. — I wanted to rest because I felt tired.
Quick decision: If you are answering “What used to happen?”, “What was happening?”, or “What was it like?”, the imperfect is often the right choice. If you are reporting a completed event or moving a story forward, you will usually need the preterite.
For more examples of these uses, see our Spanish imperfect tense guide.
Spanish Imperfect Conjugation: Regular Verbs
Regular imperfect forms follow two simple patterns. Remove the infinitive ending and add the appropriate imperfect ending:
- -ar verbs: add -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban
- -er and -ir verbs: add -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
| Subject | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| tú / vos | hablabas | comías | vivías |
| él / ella / usted | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| nosotros/as | hablábamos | comíamos | vivíamos |
| vosotros/as | hablabais | comíais | vivíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablaban | comían | vivían |
Accent reminder: In the -ar pattern, only nosotros carries a written accent: hablábamos. In the -er/-ir pattern, every ending contains an accented í.
Examples: Antes hablábamos español en clase. / En España, vosotros vivíais cerca del centro. / En El Salvador, vos comías pupusas los domingos.
Exercise 1: Regular imperfect forms
Complete the activity below with the correct imperfect form. Read the subject carefully before choosing the ending.
Only Three Irregular Verbs in the Spanish Imperfect
The imperfect is refreshingly regular: only ser (to be), ir (to go), and ver (to see) have irregular stems.
| Subject | ser | ir | ver |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | era | iba | veía |
| tú / vos | eras | ibas | veías |
| él / ella / usted | era | iba | veía |
| nosotros/as | éramos | íbamos | veíamos |
| vosotros/as | erais | ibais | veíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | eran | iban | veían |
Examples:
- Cuando era joven, iba a la playa cada tarde. — When I was young, I used to go to the beach every afternoon.
- Desde la escuela veíamos el océano. — From the school, we could see the ocean.
- En España, vosotros erais vecinos. — In Spain, you all were neighbors.
Exercise 2: Ser, ir, and ver
Choose the correct imperfect form of each irregular verb in the activity below.
Memory tip: era and iba never carry a written accent, except in the nosotros forms éramos and íbamos. Every form of ver contains an accented í: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veían.
Spanish Imperfect vs Preterite: What Is the Difference?
Both tenses describe the past, but they present it from different perspectives:
| Use the imperfect for… | Use the preterite for… |
|---|---|
| habits and repeated actions | a completed action |
| background and descriptions | an event that advances the story |
| an action already in progress | the action that interrupts it |
| time, age, weather, and states | a specific beginning or end |
Compare:
- Cuando vivía en El Zonte, caminaba a la playa cada mañana. — Habit and background: imperfect.
- Ayer caminé a la playa a las siete. — One completed action at a specific time: preterite.
- Estudiábamos cuando empezó a llover. — Ongoing background in the imperfect; interrupting event in the preterite.
Do not choose a tense only because of a “trigger word.” First decide how the speaker views the action: as background or habit, or as a completed event.
Exercises 3 and 4: Imperfect or preterite?
Use the context to choose the appropriate past tense. The first activity focuses on the imperfect in complete sentences; the final activity asks you to distinguish imperfect forms from completed preterite events.
If you want a fuller comparison before practicing, review our Spanish preterite guide with exercises.
Spanish Imperfect Conjugation: Quick Recap
- Use the imperfect for past habits, descriptions, background, time, age, weather, and actions in progress.
- Regular -ar verbs use the -aba pattern.
- Regular -er and -ir verbs use the -ía pattern.
- Only ser, ir, and ver are irregular.
- Spain commonly uses vosotros/vosotras; Latin America normally uses ustedes. In El Salvador, informal vos takes the same imperfect forms as tú.
- The imperfect sets the scene; the preterite usually reports the completed event.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many irregular verbs are there in the Spanish imperfect?
There are only three: ser, ir, and ver. Every other verb follows the regular -aba or -ía pattern.
Is the imperfect different in Spain and Latin America?
The tense and its uses are the same. The main difference is the second-person plural: Spain commonly uses vosotros hablabais/comíais/vivíais, while Latin America uses ustedes hablaban/comían/vivían. Informal vos, common in El Salvador, uses forms such as hablabas and comías.
How do I know whether to use the imperfect or the preterite?
Use the imperfect to describe a habit, an ongoing action, or background information. Use the preterite when you present an action as completed or as the next event in a sequence.
Can the Spanish imperfect mean both “used to” and “was doing”?
Yes. Context determines the best English translation. Estudiaba can mean “I used to study,” “I was studying,” or simply “I studied,” depending on the sentence.
Keep Practicing Spanish with SAY ZONTE!
Understanding the rule is only the first step—regular speaking and feedback help the forms become automatic. The SAY ZONTE! Teaching Team is happy to help you learn and practice Spanish in El Zonte or online, with lessons adapted to your level and goals.
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Continue learning
- When to use the Spanish imperfect tense
- Spanish preterite rules and exercises
- Complete guide to Spanish past tenses
Author: SAY ZONTE! – Teaching Team