Setting the scene in the past
Use the imperfect tense to describe what places, people, and situations were like in the past. Think of the imperfect as painting the background of your story. Use verbs like ser and estar to describe physical characteristics or locations.
| Life in the village was very simple. | La vida en el pueblo era muy sencilla. |
| The downtown streets were narrow and dark. | Las calles del centro eran estrechas y oscuras. |
| The cows were opposite the house. | Las vacas estaban enfrente de la casa. |
People, possessions, and routines
The imperfect also describes ongoing states in the past, such as what people had (tener), where they lived (vivir), or their professions.
| My grandfather was a farmer and lived on a small farm. | Mi abuelo era granjero y vivía en una granja pequeña. |
| The farmer had many cows and sheep. | La granjera tenía muchas vacas y ovejas. |
For habits and routines, the imperfect shows what people used to do.
| We had a vegetable patch next to the house and we grew tomatoes. | Teníamos un huerto al lado de la casa y cultivábamos tomates. |
| My grandmother grew potatoes in her vegetable patch. | Mi abuela cultivaba patatas en su huerto. |
Memories and actions in progress
When reminiscing, the imperfect helps express memories and describe actions that were in progress.
| I had a very beautiful memory of my neighborhood. | Tenía un recuerdo muy bonito de mi barrio. |
| The white sheep walked along the old path. | Las ovejas blancas caminaban por el camino viejo. |
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