Imperfecto
Use the imperfect for background, repeated past actions, and ongoing situations in the past.
Examples
SpanishTranslation
Cuando vivía en Granada, caminaba mucho por el centro.
When I lived in Granada, I walked a lot downtown.
De niño, leía antes de dormir.
As a child, I used to read before sleeping.
La calle estaba vacía y hacía frío.
The street was empty and it was cold.
Pattern
imperfect stem + habitual/background meaning
How it works
Use the imperfect for background, repeated past actions, and ongoing situations in the past. This pattern typically appears as imperfect stem + habitual/background meaning and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- It often answers “what was going on?” rather than “what happened next?”
- Time words like siempre, de niño, and mientras often pair naturally with it.
Why it matters
Tell richer stories by separating background from completed events.
Use in context
The imperfect creates the stage around an event instead of pushing the story forward in a single step.