Lesson 52 · 9:25
Was doing, used to
The imperfect for how things used to be: -aba and -ía, plus era, iba and veía.
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Show notes
What you learn
- Imperfect: -ar → -aba (trabajaba); -er / -ir → -ía (vivía, comía)
- "I" and "he / she" share a form
- Irregulars: era, iba, veía; iba a + infinitive = was going to
- Preterite = what happened; imperfect = how things were
- Gift words: antes (before), siempre (always)
Sentences you can say
- Antes vivía allá. (I used to live there.)
- Trabajaba mucho.
- Era muy diferente.
Watch out for
"Vivaba" → -aba is for -ar verbs; vivir uses -ía: Vivía.