When to use it
- Habitual actions in the past
- Ongoing background actions
- Past descriptions and conditions
- Age, time, and weather in the past
Pretérito imperfecto
Spanish Imperfect Tense Conjugation Guide
Use the Spanish imperfect for ongoing past situations, descriptions, background information, and habitual actions.
Quick summary
This spanish imperfect tense conjugation reference connects meaning to forms. Use the Spanish imperfect for ongoing past situations, descriptions, background information, and habitual actions. Remove the infinitive ending. Add -aba endings to regular -ar verbs and -ía endings to regular -er and -ir verbs.
How to form it
Remove the infinitive ending. Add -aba endings to regular -ar verbs and -ía endings to regular -er and -ir verbs.
Spanish Imperfect Tense examples
Hablaba con ella cada semana.
I used to speak with her every week.
Comíamos cuando llamaste.
We were eating when you called.
Vivían cerca del mar.
They used to live near the sea.
Regular spanish imperfect tense conjugations
Compare a model -ar, -er, and -ir verb. The bold portion is the complete conjugated form.
Practise this tense with common verbs
Open custom verb practiceCommon spanish imperfect tense mistakes
Incorrect: Cuando era niño, jugué cada día.
Correct: Cuando era niño, jugaba cada día.
A repeated past habit normally uses the imperfect.
Related Spanish tense guides
Spanish Preterite TenseUse the Spanish preterite for completed past actions and events viewed as having a clear beginning or end.Spanish Past Perfect TenseUse the Spanish past perfect for an action already completed before another past event or reference point.Spanish Imperfect SubjunctiveUse the Spanish imperfect subjunctive after past or conditional triggers and in hypothetical present or future conditions.
Spanish Imperfect Tense FAQ
What is the spanish imperfect tense?
Use the Spanish imperfect for ongoing past situations, descriptions, background information, and habitual actions.
How do you form the spanish imperfect tense?
Remove the infinitive ending. Add -aba endings to regular -ar verbs and -ía endings to regular -er and -ir verbs.
When should I use the spanish imperfect tense?
Use it for habitual actions in the past, ongoing background actions, past descriptions and conditions, age, time, and weather in the past.
How can I practise the spanish imperfect tense?
Use one tense with several common verbs, answer from memory, review corrections, and return when the saved forms become due.