Spanish 2 / Unit 4: The Imperfect Tense
4.4 Descriptions and Ongoing Actions
Notes
Use the imperfect to describe people, places and feelings in the past, and for actions that were in progress.
- Description: La casa era grande y tenía un jardín.
- Feelings or states: Estaba cansada y quería dormir.
- Two actions at the same time with mientras: Yo estudiaba mientras mi hermano escuchaba música.
- English clue: "was / were + -ing" or "used to".
Practice
Mientras yo ___ (estudiar), mi hermano ___ (escuchar) música.
Two simultaneous ongoing actions both use the imperfect.
La casa ___ (ser) grande y ___ (tener) un jardín.
Descriptions in the past use the imperfect.
"Nosotros caminábamos por la calle" best translates as...
The imperfect often matches "was / were + -ing".
Ready for more? Take the Unit 4 test.