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Using the imperfect tense in Spanish to "describe" a situation in the past

Written by qualified Spanish expert Silvia Piriz BA
Last updated: 2024-07-04
20 questions

Learn how to use  El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish for descriptions in the past

We use El Pretérito Imperfecto to describe situations in the past, i.e to explain what "was happening". Some of these situations are:

  • Talking about what the weather was like
  • Talking about who one was with
  • Describing qualities
  • Talking about age
  • To say what the time was
  • To describe a situation/setting

Read and listen to these examples:

En los años sesenta había muchos hippies.In the sixties there were many hippies.

El hotel tenía muy buenas instalaciones.The hotel had very good facilities.

En Madrid hacía sol y calor.It was sunny and hot in Madrid.

El paisaje en el campo era muy bonito.The landscape in the countryside was very beautiful.

Ella tenía el pelo rubio y rizado.She had blond curly hair.

Los niños jugaban en los columpios.The children were playing on the swings.

Eran las tres de la tarde.It was three in the afternoon.

Luis estaba con su novia en el bar.Luis was with his girlfriend at the bar.

See also El Pretérito Imperfecto

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Examples and resources

En los años sesenta había muchos hippies.In the sixties there were many hippies.
El hotel tenía muy buenas instalaciones.The hotel had very good facilities.
En Madrid hacía sol y calor.It was sunny and hot in Madrid.
El paisaje en el campo era muy bonito.The landscape in the countryside was very beautiful.
Eran las tres de la tarde.It was three in the afternoon.
Luis estaba con su novia en el bar.Luis was with his girlfriend at the bar.
Los niños jugaban en los columpios.The children were playing on the swings.
Ella tenía el pelo rubio y rizado.She had blond curly hair.
Using the imperfect tense in Spanish to "describe" a situation in the past
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