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Intermediate

Imperfecto

The ongoing / habitual past

The imperfect = ongoing/habitual past

Background and repeated actions.

📊 Imperfect endings
Verb type Endings Example
-ar -aba, -abas ... hablaba
-er / -ir -ía, -ías ... comía, vivía
irregular ser→era, ir→iba, ver→veía era
💬 Examples
Yo hablaba con él.
I was talking / used to talk with him.
📝 Imperfect = ongoing
Hacía frío.
It was cold.
📝 Description of a state
Only three irregulars: ser, ir, ver

Otherwise fully regular.

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

Imperfect = background; preterite = completed event.

💬 Examples
Dormía cuando llamó.
I was sleeping when he called.
📝 Imperfect (background) + preterite (event)
Cuando era niño, jugaba mucho.
When I was a child, I played a lot.
📝 Habitual past