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Intermediate

Pretérito Imperfeito

The ongoing / habitual past

The imperfect = ongoing/habitual past

Background and repeated actions.

📊 Imperfect endings
Verb type Endings Example
-ar -ava, -avas ... falava
-er / -ir -ia, -ias ... comia, partia
irregular ser→era, ter→tinha, ir→ia era
💬 Examples
Eu falava com ele.
I was talking / used to talk with him.
📝 Imperfect = ongoing
Fazia frio.
It was cold.
📝 Description of a state
Very regular (except ser, ter, ir, vir)

Endings -ava / -ia.

💬 Examples
comíamos
we were eating / used to eat
📝 -ia endings (comer)
Era estudante.
I was a student.
📝 ser → era (irregular imperfect)
Imperfect vs preterite

Imperfect = background; preterite = completed event.

💬 Examples
Dormia quando ele chegou.
I was sleeping when he arrived.
📝 Imperfect (background) + preterite (event)
Quando era criança, brincava muito.
When I was a child, I played a lot.
📝 Habitual past