The Imperfect Tense: Other Uses

1
The Imperfect TenseOther 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.