When do I use the imperfect in Spanish?

Use the imperfect for habitual past actions (siempre, cada día), descriptions (era, tenía, hacía), background for narration, mental / emotional states (sabía, quería), past age, time, and weather.

What's the difference between the imperfect and preterite?

Imperfect = ongoing, habitual, or descriptive (no clear bounds). Preterite = completed, bounded action. Same action can be cast either way depending on perspective.

What are common imperfect triggers?

Siempre, cada día / semana / mes / año, todos los lunes, normalmente, a veces, generalmente, mientras, cuando era niño / joven. These signal habitual or ongoing past.

Why is the imperfect used for past descriptions?

Descriptions (era alto, hacía frío) have no clear start or end. They describe an ongoing state, which is the imperfect's domain. Preterite would imply the trait started and ended (which doesn't fit descriptions).

How can I master when to use the imperfect?

Memorize imperfect triggers (siempre, cada, cuando era). Drill imperfect for descriptions (era, tenía, hacía). Practice imperfect + preterite combinations (background + interrupting event). Parrot's videos surface natural imperfect usage.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

When to Use the Imperfect in Spanish: The Complete Guide

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Use the imperfect for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive past actions. Triggers: siempre, cada, normalmente, mientras, cuando era niño. Background for narration, past habits, past states. Contrast with preterite (completed past actions).

Cuando era niño, jugaba en el parque.

When I was a kid, I used to play in the park.

What it is

Use the Spanish imperfect for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive past actions. No clear start or end. Used for past habits, descriptions of people / places / things in the past, background for other events, and emotional / mental states.

In Cuando era niño, jugaba en el parque (When I was a kid, I used to play in the park), era and jugaba are imperfect. Era describes a past state (being a kid); jugaba describes a habitual past action (used to play).

How to spot it

Look for habitual / descriptive markers: siempre, cada, todos los días, normalmente, a veces, mientras, cuando era. Also for descriptions (era alto, hacía frío, tenía cinco años).

Siempre comía pizza los viernes. — I always used to eat pizza on Fridays.
Era alto y rubio. — He was tall and blond.
Hacía frío esa noche. — It was cold that night.

Imperfect = ongoing or habitual. Preterite = completed. Same English I went can be Fui (preterite, one trip) or iba (imperfect, used to go).

When to Use the Imperfect in Spanish Quick Reference

When to use imperfect

Use	Trigger	Example
Habits	siempre, cada, normalmente	Iba al gimnasio cada lunes.
Descriptions	(no specific trigger)	Era alta y morena.
Background / states	(no specific trigger)	Hacía calor ese día.
Time, age, weather	(no specific trigger)	Tenía cinco años.
Simultaneous actions	mientras	Cocinaba mientras él leía.

Common When to Use the Imperfect in Spanish Examples in Spanish

Each imperfect use in real contexts:

Past Habits / Routines

Cuando era niño, jugaba al fútbol cada domingo.: When I was a kid, I used to play soccer every Sunday.
Siempre tomábamos café en la mañana.: We always used to have coffee in the morning.
Normalmente cenaba a las ocho.: I normally used to have dinner at eight.
Mis padres viajaban mucho.: My parents used to travel a lot.
Todos los veranos íbamos a la playa.: Every summer we used to go to the beach.

Past habits or routines use imperfect (used to + verb in English).

Past Descriptions

Era una casa grande con jardín.: It was a big house with a garden.
Tenía pelo rubio y ojos azules.: She had blond hair and blue eyes.
El restaurante era pequeño y acogedor.: The restaurant was small and cozy.
Hacía un día precioso.: It was a beautiful day.
Tenía cinco años en esa foto.: I was five years old in that photo.

Descriptions of past people, places, things, and time use imperfect.

Background for Other Events

Llovía cuando salimos.: It was raining when we left.
Estaba comiendo cuando llamaste.: I was eating when you called.
Hablábamos cuando llegaron.: We were talking when they arrived.
Era de noche cuando empezó.: It was night when it started.
Estudiaba mientras él dormía.: I was studying while he was sleeping.

Imperfect sets the scene / background; preterite shows the interrupting / new event.

Past Mental / Emotional States

Estaba triste ese día.: I was sad that day.
Sabía la respuesta.: I knew the answer.
Quería ir a la fiesta.: I wanted to go to the party.
Pensaba que tenías razón.: I thought you were right.
Me sentía cansado.: I felt tired.

Mental states (saber, pensar, querer, sentir, creer) typically use imperfect in past.

Imperfect vs. Preterite

Imperfect = Ongoing / Habitual / Descriptive

Imperfect = the action was ongoing, recurring, or being described. No clear start or end.

Vivía en Madrid. Iba al gimnasio cada día.

Ongoing or habitual.

Unbounded past = imperfect.

Preterite = Completed

Preterite = the action started and ended in the past, with clear bounds.

Viví en Madrid por dos años. Fui al gimnasio ayer.

Bounded past event.

Bounded past = preterite.

Same Event, Different Aspect

The same action can be cast in imperfect or preterite depending on perspective. Hablaba con María (ongoing) vs. Hablé con María (one completed conversation).

Hablaba / hablé con María.

Ongoing vs. bounded.

Perspective matters.

Three Irregular Imperfects

Only three Spanish verbs have irregular imperfects: ser (era), ir (iba), ver (veía). Every other verb follows regular patterns (-aba for -ar, -ía for -er / -ir).

ser → era. ir → iba. ver → veía.

Three irregular imperfects.

Memorize ser, ir, ver as a set.

Common Mistakes with When to Use the Imperfect in Spanish

Incorrect: Ayer comía pizza. — Yesterday I ate pizza.

Correct: Ayer comí pizza. — Yesterday I ate pizza.

Ayer signals a completed past action. Use preterite (comí), not imperfect (comía).

Incorrect: Cuando era niño, fui al colegio cada día. — When I was a kid, I went to school every day.

Correct: Cuando era niño, iba al colegio cada día. — When I was a kid, I used to go to school every day.

Cada día indicates a habit, not a single event. Use imperfect (iba), not preterite (fui).

Incorrect: Tuve cinco años cuando me mudé. — I was five years old when I moved.

Correct: Tenía cinco años cuando me mudé. — I was five years old when I moved.

Age (and other past states / descriptions) uses imperfect (tenía), not preterite (tuve). The age was an ongoing state, not a bounded event.

When to Use the Imperfect in Spanish FAQs

When do I use the imperfect in Spanish?: Use the imperfect for habitual past actions (siempre, cada día), descriptions (era, tenía, hacía), background for narration, mental / emotional states (sabía, quería), past age, time, and weather.
What's the difference between the imperfect and preterite?: Imperfect = ongoing, habitual, or descriptive (no clear bounds). Preterite = completed, bounded action. Same action can be cast either way depending on perspective.
What are common imperfect triggers?: Siempre, cada día / semana / mes / año, todos los lunes, normalmente, a veces, generalmente, mientras, cuando era niño / joven. These signal habitual or ongoing past.
Why is the imperfect used for past descriptions?: Descriptions (era alto, hacía frío) have no clear start or end. They describe an ongoing state, which is the imperfect's domain. Preterite would imply the trait started and ended (which doesn't fit descriptions).
How can I master when to use the imperfect?: Memorize imperfect triggers (siempre, cada, cuando era). Drill imperfect for descriptions (era, tenía, hacía). Practice imperfect + preterite combinations (background + interrupting event). Parrot's videos surface natural imperfect usage.