UNIT EIGHTEEN
The imperfect tense
In Unit 17 we saw that the preterite tense, or simple past tense, is used for completed
actions in the past. Spanish distinguishes between completed actions (preterite tense) and
repeated or continuous actions in the past (imperfect tense).
The imperfect tense is used for descriptions and for actions that took place on a regular
basis or over a period of time. The emphasis is on the on-going process rather than the
completion of the action.
Compare the two verbs in the following sentence:
We were watching the television when the phone rang.
The first verb ‘were watching’ describes an on-going action, whereas ‘rang’ describes a
sudden, completed action. In this sentence the difference is evident in the English form of
the verb, but it is not always this obvious, as in the case of habitual action:
When I was young we (usually) went to Spain for our holidays.The idea of ‘usually’ or ‘always’ indicates that a different tense is required but sometimes
the verb itself conveys the notion without any such explicit adverb.
In the case of descriptions it is clear that this is not a completed action, but an on-
going state of affairs, hence the need for the imperfect tense:
The sky was blue and the sun shone.The imperfect tense of -ar verbs in Spanish is formed as follows:
comprar (to buy) compraba comprábamos
comprabas comprabais
compraba compraban
The first person singular and the third person singular forms are the same, so if there is
any possible ambiguity, the subject pronoun can be used for clarity.
Notice that a stress mark is required on the first person plural – comprábamos.
Here are some examples of the use of the imperfect tense of -ar verbs:
Juan trabajaba en una fábrica.
Juan worked (used to work/was working) in a factory.