Pretérito imperfeito
Use the imperfect for background, repeated past action, and ongoing states in the past.
Examples
PortugueseTranslation
Quando morava no Porto, saía cedo todos os dias.
When I lived in Porto, I used to leave early every day.
Chovia muito naquela semana.
It rained a lot that week.
Na infância, eu lia antes de dormir.
In childhood, I used to read before sleeping.
Pattern
imperfect form for background or habit
How it works
Use the imperfect for background, repeated past action, and ongoing states in the past. This pattern typically appears as imperfect form for background or habit and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The imperfect often answers “what was going on?”
- It is a key tool for atmosphere and repeated action.
Why it matters
Separate event from setting in more natural Portuguese.
Use in context
This tense matters as soon as you want to narrate beyond a list of isolated completed events.