IMPERFECT TENSE (Irregular verbs) 1

Only three irregular verbs in the imperfect — The imperfect tense is famously regular — only three verbs are irregular: ser: era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran; ir: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, ibais, iban; ver: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veían. All other verbs follow completely regular patterns.

Ser in the imperfect — describing the past — Era describes what something or someone was like in the past — ongoing characteristics, not events: Era muy simpático. La ciudad era más tranquila. Éramos amigos de la infancia. This contrasts with fue (preterite) which marks a completed event or a moment of becoming.

Ver in the imperfect — habitual watching — Veía describes habitual past viewing or perception: Cuando era pequeño, siempre veía la televisión por la tarde. Veíamos a nuestros abuelos los domingos. The imperfect of ver emphasises the habitual or ongoing nature; the preterite (vi) marks a single completed viewing: Vi la película ayer.