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The imperfect tense (pretérito imperfecto) in Spanish is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past. It is also used to express descriptions, states of being, and habitual actions in the past. Here are some key points about the imperfect tense:

• Conjugation: The imperfect tense is formed by taking the third-person plural form of the preterite (e.g., hablaron) and dropping the -ron ending. Then, the corresponding imperfect endings are added (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban).

• Uses:

  1. To describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past: "Cuando era niño, jugaba al fútbol todos los días" (When I was a child, I played soccer every day).
  2. To express descriptions or states of being in the past: "El cielo estaba nublado" (The sky was cloudy).
  3. To express habitual actions in the past: "De pequeño, iba a la playa cada verano" (As a child, I went to the beach every summer).
  4. To express time expressions in the past: "Eran las tres de la tarde" (It was three o'clock in the afternoon).

• Contrasting with Preterite: The imperfect tense is often contrasted with the preterite (pretérito indefinido), which is used for completed actions in the past. For example: "Mientras yo estudiaba, mi hermano vio una película" (While I was studying, my brother watched a movie).

The imperfect tense is an essential part of Spanish grammar, and mastering its uses and conjugations is crucial for effective communication in the past tense.