El IMPERFECTO

The imperfect is used for...

• actions that are seen as completed

• actions that are seen as NOT completed

Use of the imperfect tense implies that the...

• past action DID NOT have a definite beginning or a definite end

• past action DID have a definite beginning or a definite end

The imperfect tells us...

• specifically when an action took place

• in general when an action took place

The key words and phrases of the imperfect signal...

• specific time frames

• repetitive, vague or non-specific time frames

The actual, true meaning of the imperfect tense in English is...

• was, were, ing, used to or would

• add ed to the end of a verb or put DID in front of a verb

Which ACRONYMN helps us remember the rule for when to use the IMPERFECT TENSE...

• SAFE

  S = Specific # of instances or times

  A = Action that interrupts another action/event

  F = Focuses on the beginning or end

  E = Enclosed amount of time (duration)

• WATERS

  W = Weather

  A = Age

  T = Time

  R = Emotion

  S = Setting or description

These endings are used for REGULAR AR VERBS in the IMPERFECT TENSE...

• ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían

• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban

These endings are used for REGULAR ER/IR VERBS in the IMPERFECT TENSE...

• ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían

• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban

These 3 verbs are IRREGULAR in the IMPERFECT TENSE...

• AR, ER and IR verbs

• AR, ER/IR and SER verbs

• SER, IR and VER verbs

• ER/IR, Ser and Ver verbs

These endings are used for the 3 IRREGULAR VERBS in the IMPERFECT TENSE...

• ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían

• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban

• IR

  iba, ibas, iba, íbamos,, ibais, iban

  SER

  era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran

  VER

  veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veían