Spanish Imperfect Tense
Describing ongoing or habitual past actions. Adapted for Spanish. This Spanish reference focuses on recognition, lookup, and practical reading rather than drills.
Rule 1: Read ongoing past actions
Use this section to read ongoing past actions in Spanish. Check the example sentence, then compare the form with the surrounding words before applying the pattern elsewhere.
Rule 2: Describe background states
Use this section to describe background states in Spanish. Check the example sentence, then compare the form with the surrounding words before applying the pattern elsewhere.
Rule 3: Contrast with completed past
Use this section to contrast with completed past in Spanish. Check the example sentence, then compare the form with the surrounding words before applying the pattern elsewhere.
Examples
Entendí la regla en este ejemplo.
I understood the rule in this example.
Use this as a Spanish lookup example for background actions.
La forma cambia según el contexto.
The form changes according to context.
Use this as a Spanish lookup example for past habits.
Spanish lookup checklist
| Question | What to check |
|---|---|
| Meaning | What does the form contribute to the sentence? |
| Agreement | Does it match person, number, gender, case, or tense? |
| Position | Does placement change emphasis or grammatical role? |
Common Mistakes
- Do not translate the Spanish pattern word-for-word from English.
- Check the whole phrase before deciding what a single form means.
- Watch for register: a correct written form can sound too formal in casual speech.
Lookup Tips
- Start with the example closest to your sentence.
- Identify the trigger word or ending before memorizing a rule.
- Save the topic as a focus if you expect to revisit it.