ESPAÑOL DOS APUNTES DEL IMPERFECTO #1

IMPERFECTO The imperfect tense is another past tense, distinct & NOT interchangeable with the preterit. The imperfect tense is another past tense, distinct & NOT interchangeable with the preterit.

¿Cómo se forma el imperfecto? There are only two types of imperfect endings! There are endings for – AR verbs; meanwhile – ER & -IR verbs share endings! There are only two types of imperfect endings! There are endings for – AR verbs; meanwhile – ER & -IR verbs share endings!

--AR -aba -ábamos -abas-abais -abas-abais -aba-aban -aba-aban

--ER / --IR -ía-íamos -ías-íais -ía-ían

¡OJO! ¡OJO! The yo & él, ella, Ud. forms are identical. The yo & él, ella, Ud. forms are identical.

¡OJO! ¡OJO! There are NO stem- changes in the imperfect tense. There are NO stem- changes in the imperfect tense.

¡OJO! ¡OJO! There are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect! There are only three irregular verbs in the imperfect! IR (to go) IR (to go) SER (to be) SER (to be) VER (to see) VER (to see)

IR (to go) ibaíbamos ibasibais ibaiban

SER (to be) eraéramos eraserais eraeran

VER (to see) veía veíamos veíasveíais veíaveían

HABER FORMATIEMPOMEANING haypresente there is, there are habíaimperfecto there was, there were hubopretérito there was, there were

The imperfect tense of hay (there is, there are) is había (there was, there were). Notice this verb is both singular & plural. The preterit form is hubo (there was, there were in the sense of there occurred). The imperfect tense of hay (there is, there are) is había (there was, there were). Notice this verb is both singular & plural. The preterit form is hubo (there was, there were in the sense of there occurred).

Cuando yo era niña, no había iPods por todas partes.

When I was a little girl, there were no iPods. But now, there are iPods everywhere.

En 1970, no había I No existía todavía.

In 1970, there wasnt I-475. It didnt exist yet.

There are several distinct uses of the imperfect. ALL involve a contrast with the preterit. IMPERFECTO PRETÉRITO

Distinction #1 Preterit for single, memorable actions or events (or a repeated a distinct number of times) Preterit for single, memorable actions or events (or a repeated a distinct number of times) Imperfect for repeated, habitual actions or events (# of repetitions not important!) Imperfect for repeated, habitual actions or events (# of repetitions not important!) In such cases, the imperfect is sometimes translated as used to or would + verb In such cases, the imperfect is sometimes translated as used to or would + verb

La semana pasada, no recibí una detención por llegar tarde a la clase. La semana pasada, no recibí una detención por llegar tarde a la clase.

Last week, I didnt get a detention for arriving late to class. Last week, I didnt get a detention for arriving late to class.

En 1978, Enrique tuvo su primer cita. En 1978, Enrique tuvo su primer cita.

In 1978, Eric had his first date. In 1978, Eric had his first date.

El mes pasado, Alicia y yo llegamos tarde a la práctica dos veces. El mes pasado, Alicia y yo llegamos tarde a la práctica dos veces.

Last month, Alicia & I arrived late to practice twice/two times. Last month, Alicia & I arrived late to practice twice/two times.

En 1900, mucha gente vivía en el campo y no tenía coches. Viajaba por caballo. En 1900, mucha gente vivía en el campo y no tenía coches. Viajaba por caballo.

In 1900, many people lived in the country & didnt have cars. They traveled by horse. In 1900, many people lived in the country & didnt have cars. They traveled by horse.

Cuando mi papá era joven, asistía a una escuela muy pequeña. Tenía quince estudiantes. Cuando mi papá era joven, asistía a una escuela muy pequeña. Tenía quince estudiantes.

When my dad was younger, he attended a very small school. It had 15 students. When my dad was younger, he attended a very small school. It had 15 students.

Hace muchos años, no se podía mirar películas en casa. Tenía que ir al cine. No había videos ni DVDs.

Many years ago, one could not watch movies at home. One had to go to the cinema. There werent videos nor DVDs.

TRIGGER WORDS… Certain words and phrases indicate an indefinite number of repetitions and therefore provide a cue for the use of the imperfect.

a menudo siempre a veces often always sometimes

todos los días every day frecuentamente frequently muchas veces many times

cada lunes every Monday generalmente generally varias veces several times

TRIGGER WORDS… In contrast, certain other words and phrases indicate single, distinct actions and therefore point toward the preterit.

por la primera vez for the first time una vez, dos veces, etc. once, twice, etc. la última vez the last time