The Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

1. The Imperfect Tense:Other Uses P. 248 Realidades 2

2. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • You already know how to use the imperfect tense together with the preterite to describe a situation that existed when something else happened. • Nadie estaba en la casa cuando los bomberos entraron.

3. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • The imperfect tense may also be used: • To tell what time it was or what the weather was like when something happened. • Eran las cinco de la mañana y llovía mucho cuando el accidente occurió.

4. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • To describe the physical, mental, and emotional states of a person or thing when something happened. • Muchas personas querían ayudar a la familia, pero no sabían que hacer.

5. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • These verbs are often used in the imperfect to describe states of being:

6. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • Estar (triste, contento, cansado) • Parecer (cansado, mal) • Pensar • Querer • Sentirse (bien, enfermo) • Tener (calor, frío, hambre, sed, sueño)

7. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • Había and hubo are forms of haber and both mean “there was, there were.” • Había is used to describe a situation that existed in the past, while hubo is used to say that an event took place.

8. Imperfect Tense: Other Uses • Había mucho humo en el apartamento. • Hubo un terremoto ayer a las seis de la mañana.