Imperfect Tense (Imperfecto)

Used for ongoing or habitual past actions — setting the scene, describing what 'used to' happen.

When to use

Habitual past actions: De niño, jugaba en el parque (As a child, I used to play in the park).
Background descriptions: Era una noche oscura (It was a dark night).
Ongoing past actions: Mientras caminaba, llovió (While I was walking, it rained).

-are.g. hablar (habl-)

yo-aba

tú-abas

él/ella-aba

nosotros-ábamos

vosotros-abais

ellos/ellas-aban

-er/-ire.g. comer (com-)

yo-ía

tú-ías

él/ella-ía

nosotros-íamos

vosotros-íais

ellos/ellas-ían

ser → erair → ibaver → veía

Only 3 verbs are irregular in the imperfect: ser (era), ir (iba), ver (veía).
The imperfect is one of the easiest tenses to conjugate — very few irregulars!
Use imperfect for age, time, weather, and emotions in the past: Tenía 10 años (I was 10 years old).