El imperfecto The imperfect tense

1. El imperfectoThe imperfect tense There is more than one past tense in Spanish. The preteritetense is for completed, simple actions in the past (I ate). The imperfect tense is for continuous actions in the past (I was eating).

2. Meanings • A) Was/were..ing (While I was/we were working in the factory) • B) Used to ( Every day I used to …) • C) Would- when would means used to (Every morning I would visit my grandpa)

3. Disguised • I worked/I visited seems like the simple past… • Apply this test: If A/B/C from the previous slide can be inserted then use the imperfecttense. • While I worked in the factory – really means while I was working in the factory • Every day I visited my grandpa - really means every day I used to visit my grandpa

4. Examples of the Imperfect • 1. Description or state Llevaba un vestido azul. I was wearing a blue dress. • 2. Repetition or habit Todos los días me levantaba a las 7. I used to get up at 7 every day.

5. 3. Interrupted action • We were eating when they arrived • While he was acting he fell down • While we were waiting he spoke

6. 4. Simultaneous, incomplete actions • While I was speakinghe was reading a book. Durante que hablaba, leía

7. Formation - Regular • Knock ar/er/ir off the infinitive. • Add the imperfect ending: ar verbs aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban er/ir verbs ía, ías,ía, íamos, íais, ían

8. ar verbs. • hablar • habl • hablaba hablábamos • hablabas hablabais • hablaba hablaban

9. er/ir verbs. • comer • com • comía comíamos • comías comíais • comía comían

10. There are only 3 Irregulars! ser ir ver era iba veía eras ibas veías era iba veía éramos íbamos veíamos erais ibais veíais eran iban veían

11. Es el preterito o el imperfecto? Agrupa las frases en dos columnas. I jumped She left You used to listen We were talking He went She was singing They used to study I watched TV.

12. Escribe las frases en inglés 1. Tenía un estilo masculino - llevaba pantalones militares y botas. 2. Le encantaba ir al teatro. 3. Jennifer Aniston estaba casada con Brad Pitt, sin embargo ahora es soltera. 4. Mientras era embarazada con su primer hijo, comía helado con vinagre.

13. Un poco de práctica • Copy the English sentences. • Underline the preterite verbs in one colour and the imperfect verbs in another colour. • Translate the sentences into Spanish. a. I was talking when she arrived. b. They were listening to music and singing. c. I went to the bank last week. d. While she was watching TV she was eating a sandwich. e. She used to be a singer, but now she is an actor.