Use of the imperfect
5 The imperfect is used for descriptions of situations in the past, when it is
not necessary (or important) to say how long an action lasted. This generally
happens with verbs like essere, sembrare and avere, and with verbs expressing
will, desire or intention, possibility or ability; but it can happen with other
verbs as well:
6 The imperfect is also used to express actions which were habitual or hap-
pened repeatedly in the past:
7 Since the imperfect is used when it is not relevant how long the action
lasted, it is not used when it is stated how many times, or for how long,
something happened:
C’erano molte persone che
aspettavano il treno.
Ieri sera sembravi molto stanco.
Mia nonna era molto alta e aveva i
capelli bianchi.
Faceva freddo, in montagna?
Cosa volevi?
Due anni fa abitavo a Milano.
Suo padre era medico.There were a lot of people (who were)
waiting for the train.
You looked very tired last night.
My grandmother was very tall and
had white hair.
Was it cold in the mountains?
What did you want/were you wanting?
Two years ago I was living in Milan.
His father was a doctor.L’estate scorsa giocavamo sempre
a tennis.
Quando ero in vacanza andavo al
cinema tutti i giorni.
Tutte le mattine a colazione Giulia
prendeva solo del caffè.
Cenavamo alle otto.Last summer we played tennis all the
time.
When I was on holiday I went to the
cinema every day.
Every morning Giulia just had coffee
for breakfast.
We used to have dinner at eight.L’estate scorsa sono andato al
cinema 25 volte.Last summer I went to the cinema 25
times.
Ha fatto molto freddo per due giorni.
Giulia ha lavorato qui da gennaio a
giugno.
Ho abitato a Milano per due anni.
Ieri abbiamo lavorato tutto il giorno.
Ieri sono stato in biblioteca dalle
nove alle undici.It was very cold for two days.
Giulia worked here from January to
June.
I lived in Milan for two years.
Yesterday we worked all day.
Yesterday I was in the library from
nine till 11.