71 The imperfect / adjectives

There are two ways to talk about the past: the preterit and the imperfect. The imperfect works to mark that the past action was repeated or was a routine. The imperfect works to talk about past routines. In English you express this using words “used to”, but in Spanish you need to add an ending to the verb to express the same thing.

Conjugations in Imperfect are only divided into two: those ending in AR, and those ending in ER and IR. The first person singular is exactly equal to the third person singular. Those ending in AR pick ABA, and those ending in ER or IR pick ÍA. Stress goes on the last part of the stem.

Sample conversations

A romantic story

Tell a romantic story about someone you were attracted to but you were not corresponded. Use the template and ask your partner to ask follow-up questions.

A: Me gustaba ___________ (un hombre/una mujer).

B: ¿Cómo se llamaba?

A: Se llamaba ___________ (add name).

B: ¿Cuándo?

A: Cuando yo estaba en _______________ (add grade of school) OR cuando yo tenía _________ (add your age when you liked this person).

B: ¿Cuántos años tenía ELLA o ÉL?

A: Tenía ____________ años.

B: ¿Cómo era?

A: Era ____________, ____________, _____________ y _____________ (add four positive adjectives from the song “Ese hombre”), pero también era ____________, ____________, _____________ y _____________ (add four negative adjectives from the song “Ese hombre”).

Ese hombre que tú ves ahí
That man that you see right-there
Que parece tan galante, tan atento y arrogante
That seems so gallant, so attentive and arrogant
Lo conozco como a mí
Him (I) know as to me
Ese hombre que tú ves ahí
That man that you see right-there
Que aparenta ser divino, tan amable y efusivo
That appears to be divine, so polite and effusive
Solo sabe hacer sufrir
Just knows (how) to make suffer

Es un gran necio, un estúpido, engreído
(He) is a great fool, a stupid, smug
Egoísta y caprichoso, un payaso vanidoso
Selfish and whimsical, a vain clown
Inconsciente y presumido, falso y malo, rencoroso
Thoughtless and boastful, false and evil, resentful
Que no tiene corazón
That doesn’t have heart

Lleno de celos, sin razones ni motivos
Full of jelousness, without reasons or motives
Como el viento impetuoso, pocas veces cariñoso
Like the uncontrollable wind, few times affectionate
Inseguro de sí mismo, insoportable como amigo
Insecure of himself, unbearable as friend
Insufrible como amor
Insufferable as love

Ese hombre que tú ves ahí
That man that you see right-there
Que parece tan amable, fadivoso y agradable
That seems so polite, generous and pleasant
Lo conozco como a mí
(I) him know as to me
Ese hombre que tú ves ahí, que parece tan seguro
That man that you see right-there, that seems so secure
De pisar bien por el mundo
Of stepping well (strong) through the world
Solo sabe hacer sufrir
Just knows (how) to make suffer.