10.1: The imperfect tense

Question 0

The imperfect expresses what was happening at a certain time or how things used to be. The preterite, in contrast, expresses a __________ action.

Answer 0

completed

Question 1

As a general rule, the imperfect is used to describe actions by the speaker as __________ or __________, while the preterite is used to describe actions which have been __________,

Answer 1

incomplete; continuing; completed

Question 2

Conjugate the imperfect stems of -ar verbs.

Answer 2

yo -aba nosotros/as -ábamos
tú -abas vosotros/as -abais
Ud./él/ella -aba Uds./ellos/as -aban

Question 3

Conjugate the imperfect stems of -er/-ir verbs.

Answer 3

yo -ía nosotros/as -íamos
tú -ías vosotros/as -íais
Ud./él/ella -ía Uds./ellos/as -ían

Question 4

Conjugate cantar in the imperfect tense.

Answer 4

yo cantaba nosotros/as cantábamos
tú cantabas vosotros/as cantabais
Ud./él/ella cantaba Uds./ellos/as cantaban

Question 5

Conjugate vivir in the imperfect tense.

Answer 5

yo vivía nosotros/as vivíamos
tú vivías vosotros/as vivíais
Ud./él/ella vivía Uds./ellos/as vivían

Question 6

Note that the imperfect endings of -er and -ir verbs are __________.

Answer 6

the same

Question 7

Note that the nosotros form of -ar verbs always carries an accent mark on the __________ a of the ending.

Answer 7

first

Question 8

All forms of -er and -ir verbs in the imperfect carry an accent on the first __ of the ending.

Answer 8

i

Question 9

There are no stem changes in the __________.

Answer 9

imperfect

Question 10

The imperfect form of hay is __________.

Answer 10

había

there was; there were; there used to be

Question 11

__________, __________, and __________ are the only verbs that are irregular in the imperfect.

Answer 11

Ir; ser; ver

Question 12

Conjugate ir in the imperfect tense.

Answer 12

yo iba nosotros/as ibamos
tú ibas vosotros/as ibais
Ud./él/ella iba Uds./ellos/as iban

Question 13

Conjugate ser in the imperfect tense.

Answer 13

yo era nosotros/as éramos
tú eras vosotros/as erais
Ud./él/ella era Uds./ellos/as eran

Question 14

Conjugate ver in the imperfect tense.

Answer 14

yo veía nosotros/as veíamos
tú veías vosotros/as veíais
Ud./él/ella veía Uds./ellos/as veían

Question 15

Like hay, había can be followed by a singular or plural noun.

Answer 15

Había un solo médico en la sala.

Había dos pacientes allí.

Question 16

Traducir

¿Qué te pasó?

Answer 16

What happened to you?

Question 17

Traducir

¿Dónde viviás de niño?

Answer 17

Where did you live as a child?

Question 18

Traducir

Me torcí el tobillo.

Answer 18

I sprained my ankle.

Question 19

Traducir

Viviá en San José.

Answer 19

I lived in San José.

Question 20

These expressions are often used with the imperfect because they express habitual or repeated actions: de niño/a, todos los días, mientras. Translate these expressions.

Answer 20

as a child; every day; while

Question 21

What are the uses of the imperfect?

Answer 21

1. Habitual or repeated actions
2. Events or actions that were in progress
3. Physical characteristics
4. Mental or emotional states
5. Telling time
6. Age

Question 22

What kind of use of imperfect is this? Traducir.

Íbamos al parque los domingos.

Answer 22

Habitual or repeated actions

We used to go to the park on Sundays.

Question 23

What kind of use of imperfect is this? Traducir.

Yo leía mientras él estudiaba.

Answer 23

Events or actions that were in progress

I was reading while he was studying.

Question 24

What kind of use of imperfect is this? Traducir. Era alto y guapo.

Answer 24

Physical characteristics He was tall and handsome.

Question 25

What kind of use of imperfect is this? Traducir. Quería mucho a su familia.

Answer 25

Mental or emotional states He loved his family very much.

Question 26

What kind of use of imperfect is this? Traducir. Eran las tres y media.

Answer 26

Telling time It was 3:30.

Question 27

What kind of use of imperfect is this? Traducir. Los niños tenían seis años.

Answer 27

Age The children were six years old.