Conjugate ser in the imperfect tense in Spanish (El Imperfecto)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Ana Matilla MA, BA

Last updated: 2025-07-13

The verb ser (to be) is irregular in El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish.

Learn how to conjugate "ser" in El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish

yo	era
tú	eras
él / ella / Ud.	era
nosotros / nosotras	éramos
vosotros / vosotras	erais
ellos / ellas / Uds.	eran

NB: Don't forget the accent on éramos!

Don't confuse ser and estar in this tense! Ser is so irregular you might think it looks a bit like estar but estar is regular in the imperfect tense.

Here are some examples to listen to:

Yo era el más pequeño de la familia.I was the smallest in the family.

Tú eras muy bueno.You were very good.

Ella era modelo.She used to be a model.

Nosotros éramos los mejores del campeonato.We used to be the best in the championship.

Vosotros erais ricos.You used to be rich.

Ellos eran rápidos.They were fast.

Ustedes eran muy felices en el pueblo.You were very happy in the village.

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