Talking about the Past: Regular Verbs in the Imperfect Indicative

Remember that the the imperfect describes repetitive, habitual actions or narrates ongoing background events.

Here are the three model verbs completely conjugated in the imperfect indicative tense.

Remember, they are models and the same endings can be used with any regular -ar, -er or -ir verb.

Remember to follow these steps to conjugate correctly:

  • 1. Identify the infinitive.
    2. Determine whether it's an -ar, -er or -ir verb.
    3. Obtain the stem by deleting the -ar, -er or -ir ending.
    4. Add the following endings on to the stem:

HABLARCOMERVIVIR
yohablabacomíavivía
túhablabasvivíascomías
él/ella, Ud.hablabacomíavivía
nosotros/nosotras      hablábamos      comíamos      vivíamos     
vosotros/vosotrashablabaiscomíaisvivíais
ellos/ellas, Uds.hablabancomíanvivían

Yes, you've noticed right! The imperfect endings are the same for regular -er and -ir verbs.
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