Imperfect Tense
The companion to the preterite, the imperfect (or copreterite) tense also refers to the simple past. However, whereas the preterite is enclosed by time, the imperfect is not. An action can have occurred over a span of time with no clear beginning or ending point. There may or may not be a connection with the present; it may or may not still be happening. This vagueness regarding the end to an action, or this developing and lasting quality of past action, is the reason for this tense's being named the “imperfect” tense. The action of the imperfect tense may be tied to the following:
An unspecified amount of time. For example: De niño, quería un caballo. (As a boy, I wanted a horse.)
An indefinite number of occurrences, such as a habit or custom. For example: Cada vez que la veía, me sentía feliz. (Each time I saw her, I felt happy.)
Conjugating Verbs in the Imperfect Tense
The following table includes the verb endings for verbs in the imperfect tense. Notice that the yo form and él, ella, usted form of these verbs is the same. To avoid confusion, simply add the relevant pronoun to identify the correct person. And as with the preterite tense endings, imperfect –er and –ir verbs share the same set of endings.
–Ar Verb Endings in the Imperfect Tense
–Er Verb Endings in the Imperfect Tense
–Ir Verb Endings in the Imperfect Tense
Preterite and Imperfect Together
It's not uncommon to combine the preterite and the imperfect verbs in the same sentence, especially with the words de and cuando. Take a look at the following examples.
For additional vocabulary words that will help you form similar sentences in the imperfect and preterite tense, refer to the following table.
Vocabulary Often Used with the Imperfect and Preterite Tense
Vocabulary Often Used with the Imperfect and Preterite Tense
Take a look at the following two phrases: cada mes (each month) and cada semana (each week). Though mes is a masculine noun and semana is a feminine noun, the word cada does not change its ending. And, of course, it does not exist in the plural—“each” is always a singular idea.
Preterite Versus Imperfect
Non-native English speakers often have trouble differentiating between the preterite and the imperfect. Though verbs in these two tenses may sometimes be translated as the same verb tense in English, differences do exist.
The preterite is a precise and limiting tense. The imperfect, on the other hand, is less restricted; it represents the vagueness of time with respect to the action. For a detailed review of when to use the preterite and the imperfect, refer to the following table.
Preterite Versus Imperfect
The following are some examples to help you differentiate between the imperfect and the preterite.
