the imperfect tense: -ar regular verbs página 175
TRANSCRIPT
The Imperfect Tense:-Ar Regular Verbs
Página 175
Preterite• You have already learned to
talk about the past using the preterite tense for actions that began and ended at a definite time.
Preterite• Ana cantó en la fiesta anoche.• Ana sang at the party last
night.• (Completed past action.)
Imperfect• The imperfect tense is
another way to talk about the past. We use it to describe actions without any indication of their beginning or end.
Imperfect• Ana cantaba.• Ana was singing.• (No indication of beginning or
end.)
Imperfect•We use the imperfect to talk
about actions that happened repeatedly in the past. In English we often say “used to” or “would” to express this idea.
Imperfect• Generalmente caminaban
mucho.• Generally they would walk a
lot.
Imperfect• Jugaban con otros niños de la
familia.• They used to play with other
children in the family.
Imperfect• Expressions such as
generalmente, a menudo, muchas veces, todos los días, siempre, and nunca can tell us to use the imperfect.
Imperfect• Here are all the forms of -ar
verbs in the imperfect. Notice the accent mark on the nosotros form.
CAMINAR (to walk)Yo caminaba
Tú caminabas
ÉlElla caminabaUd.
Nosotros caminábamos
EllosEllas caminabanUds.
• Since the yo and the Ud./él/ella forms are the same, we often use the subject pronouns to avoid confusion.
Imperfect
Imperfect
Let’s do a few more verbs.
PATINAR (to skate)Yo patinaba
Tú patinabas
ÉlElla patinabaUd.
Nosotros patinábamos
EllosEllas patinabanUds.
USAR (to use)Yo usaba
Tú usabas
ÉlElla usabaUd.
Nosotros usábamos
EllosEllas usabanUds.
JUGAR (to play)Yo jugaba
Tú jugabas
ÉlElla jugabaUd.
Nosotros jugábamos
EllosEllas jugabanUds.
Remember when to use the imperfect:
• If the verb
–1. describes (it has to be in the imperfect)–2. used to / would (it was a habit or a
routine)–3. was/were +ing (ongoing action