Used for actions frequently repeated in the past. Yo hablaba con mis

Used for actions frequently repeated in the past.
Yo hablaba con mis amigos todos los días cuando era un niño.
I used to talk to my friends every day when I was a kid.
Yo andaba a la escuela muchas veces.
I used to/would walk to school many times.
Used for activities or situations that “were going on” when something else interrupted (HINT—The interupting
action is always preterit!)
Yo hacía mi tarea cuando el teléfono soñó.
I was doing my homework when the telephone rang.
Nosotros hablábamos cuando ella gritó.
We were talking when she shouted/screamed.
Used any time two actions were occurring simultaneously without interrupting one another.
Yo lavaba los platos y mi hermanito hacía su tarea.
I was washing dishes and my little brother was doing his homework.
Mientras nosotras tomábamos apuntes, los alumnos tomaban un exámen.
While we were taking notes, the students were taking a test.
The IMPERFECT is used to express PHYSICAL or EMOTIONAL CONDITIONS or MENTAL PROCESS and
ATTITUDES: (such as being sick, tired, afraid, belief in something, or emotional response to something.
Yo creía en Papa Noel. I used to believe in Santa Clause.
Yo estaba feliz cuando mi madre ganó un trabajo nuevo.
I was happy when my mother gained/won a new job.
The IMPERFECT is used to present BACKGROUND INFORMATION including information that form the SETTING
of an event or story. (Time of day, weather, age in the past….ie It was a dark and stormy night, I was seven
and home alone on a Friday night—All imperfect) The imperfect often sets a mood.
Era una noche tormentosa y oscura. Era siete y estaba en mi casa solo.
It was a dark, stormy night. I was seven and at home alone.
Hacía calor. It was hot.
--Used to express verbs of being or thought process (ex ser, tener, pensar, sentir etc—almost always
imperfect)
Yo era un alumno. I was a student. (being)
Yo pensaba que mi papá era el hombre perfecto.
I thought that my daddy was the perfect man.
MIENTRAS—WHILE The action that directly follows will be imperfect!!! BUT—it is possible to also have the
preterit in the same sentence.
Mientras yo hablaba, un niño gritó.
While I was talking, a child screamed. (kid interupted an ongoing action—the interuption is preterit)
Mientras yo hablaba, los alumnos tomaban apuntes.
While I was talking, the students were taking notes.
(simultaneous actions)
Dr. Al Wept ( an imperfect kind of guy)
D—date, description
R—repetition,relationships
A—age, attitude, appearance
L—looks, location
W—weather
E—Emotion
P—Physical traits
T—Time
Test the WATERS for the imperfect:
W—weather
A—age, attitude, appearance
T—time
E—Emotion
R—Repetition, relationship
S—setting