Imperfect Tense in Italian: L'imperfetto

Professor Dave explains the concept of perfect and imperfect tenses in the context of past actions. The perfect tense indicates completed actions, while the imperfect tense suggests ongoing, habitual, or incomplete actions. Examples in English illustrate these concepts. The video also covers the conjugation of regular verbs in the imperfect tense and highlights some irregular verbs. The focus is on understanding how these tenses are used to describe actions in the past.

What does the imperfect tense suggest about an action?

• The action is hypothetical.

• The action is in the future.

• The action is completed.

• The action is ongoing or habitual.

Which sentence best illustrates a repetitive action in the past?

• I am going to Pisa now.

• I used to go to Pisa every summer.

• I will go to Pisa next summer.

• Last summer I went to Pisa.

What is the first step in conjugating a regular verb in the imperfect tense?

• Add 'ed' to the verb.

• Change the verb to its past participle form.

• Add the endings directly to the infinitive.

• Drop the 're' ending from the infinitive.

Which of the following is a correct conjugation of 'balare' in the imperfect tense?

• Balavo

• Balarevo

• Balai

• Balato

Which verb is irregular in the imperfect tense?

• Correre

• Essere

• Balare

• Dormire

What is the imperfect form of 'bere'?

• Bevo

• Bero

• Bevevo

• Bevero

From which language is the irregular form of 'fare' in the imperfect tense derived?

• Spanish

• Latin

• French

• Greek