This introduction covers Las terminaciones del imperfecto — Imperfect Endings within Imperfect tense (regular + key irregulars) for GCSE Spanish. Revise Imperfect tense (regular + key irregulars) in Time Frames for GCSE Spanish with 13 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📚 Las terminaciones del imperfecto — Imperfect Endings
Almost every Spanish verb is regular in the imperfect — only three exceptions exist. Learn the two patterns below and you can put nearly any verb into the imperfect. Note the key rule: for -AR verbs only the nosotros form takes a written accent (-ábamos); for -ER/-IR verbs every form carries an accent on the í.
| Pronombre | hablar (to speak) — -ar | comer (to eat) / vivir (to live) — -er/-ir |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaba | comía / vivía |
| tú | hablabas | comías / vivías |
| él/ella/usted | hablaba | comía / vivía |
| nosotros | hablábamos | comíamos / vivíamos |
| vosotros | hablabais | comíais / vivíais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablaban | comían / vivían |
| Pronombre | ser (to be) | ir (to go) | ver (to see/watch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | era | iba | veía |
| tú | eras | ibas | veías |
| él/ella/usted | era | iba | veía |
| nosotros | éramos | íbamos | veíamos |
| vosotros | erais | ibais | veíais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | eran | iban | veían |
Only 3 verbs are irregular in the imperfect — all others follow the two patterns above.
Practice questions for Imperfect tense (regular + key irregulars)
Quick recall flashcards
Imperfecto irregular: IR
iba · ibas · iba · íbamos · ibais · iban
'Ir' es completamente irregular en el imperfecto.
Solo 'íbamos' lleva tilde.
Imperfecto irregular: SER
era · eras · era · éramos · erais · eran
'Ser' es completamente irregular en el imperfecto.
Solo 'éramos' lleva tilde.