the imperfect tense: usos imperfect tense: describing a situation the imperfect tense is also used:...

The Imperfect Tense:

Imperfect Tense: Describing a Situation

The imperfect tense is also used:To describe people, places, and

situations in the pastLa casa de mis abuelos era

enorme. Tenía cinco dormitorios.

To talk about a past action or situation when no beginning or end is specified

Había mucha gente en la casa para el aniversario de mis abuelos.

To describe the situation or background information when something else happened or interrupted the ongoing action.

In these cases, the imperfect tense is used to tell what someone was doing when something happened (preterite.)

Todos mis parientes bailaban cuando llegamos.

All my relatives were dancing when we arrived.

Imperfect Tense: Other UsesImperfect Tense: Other Uses

The imperfect tense may also be used:

To tell what time it was or what the weather was like when something happened.

Eran las cinco de la mañana y llovía mucho cuando el accidente occurió.

To describe the physical, mental, and emotional states of a person or thing when something happened.

Muchas personas querían ayudar a la familia, pero no sabían que hacer.

These verbs are often used in the imperfect to describe states of being:

Estar (triste, contento, cansado)Parecer (cansado, mal)PensarQuererSentirse (bien, enfermo)Tener (calor, frío, hambre, sed,

sueño)

Había and hubo are forms of haber and both mean “there was, there were.”

Había is used to describe a situation that existed in the past, while hubo is used to say that an event took place.

Había mucho humo en el apartamento.

Hubo un terremoto ayer a las seis de la mañana.

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