Learn Spanish Tenses: IMPERFECTO -complete class-

Learn about one of the most common tenses in Spanish, the imperfect tense. What is the imperfect? How do you form it? When and how do you use it? These are just some of the topics you will learn in this video. The imperfect (imperfecto) is one the most important and most used tenses in Spanish. When people are learning Spanish, they become confused with the imperfect tense. The confusion is rooted in the fact that the imperfect shares some similarities with his cousin, the past simple. And why wouldn’t they? They belong to the same family, the Past Tense family. So even though the imperfect and the simple past sometimes could play tricks in our brain and confuse us, there are clues to identify when to use each of these in the correct context. In this video I will give you a thorough explanation of the Spanish Imperfecto and will give you some clues that will help you identify when to use it and why. The imperfect is commonly used as the background of other actions, to give you the time, the scene, the circumstances like the weather of other past actions. The imperfect is like a lasting past. It is a past that started and ended but the beginning and end are not defined at specific points in the past. The imperfect helps you to describe the qualities of places and people in the past. The imperfect often tells you of repeated actions in the past but that cannot be identified with a specific number. For example, something used to happen, you used to do something, it was a regular habit but don’t know exactly the number of times because it really is not important. With the imperfect you can tell me about your habits, your traditions of you, your place, your people, the places you visited. So, imperfecto: it really makes you a good storyteller, a chatty person whose memory is great. Are you a chatty one?
00:00 Introduction
01:53 What is a verb?
04:14 What is the imperfecto
06:19 When to use imperfecto
31:34 Conjugation of imperfecto
36:12 First conjugation: Verbs that end with "ar"
39:55 Second conjugation: Verbs that end with "er"
42:41 Third conjugation: Verbs that end with "ir"
47:56 Time markers used with imperfecto
54:41 Examples using imperfecto
You may want to check my other videos where you can learn more verbs and learn to conjugate them:
Spanish Verbs that belong to the first conjugation that end with AR in present, past, future:
• Learn 30 Spanish Verbs...
Spanish Verbs that belong to the second conjugation that end with ER in present, past, future:
• Learn 20 important Spa...
Spanish Verbs that belong to the second conjugation that end with IR in present, past, future:
• Learn 15 Spanish Verbs...
I also have lessons about many useful Spanish verbs. Here is the playlist:
• How to use the verb "t...
Please consider making a donation if you think my lessons are contributing to your knowledge. I know I sound like The Guardian but unlike The Guardian, I am not a corporation, I am a person who makes Spanish lessons about all sorts of topics to help many, and whoever wants to, to learn Spanish free of charge. You can donate at: www.butterflyspanish.com/ or through PayPal: www.paypal.me/ButterflySpanish
Do not forget to review my lessons about topics such as the Spanish alphabet, Spanish sounds and pronunciation, Spanish vocabulary, Spanish verbs, and Spanish tenses like past vs imperfect in Spanish, and more complicated Spanish topics like direct and indirect objects in Spanish such as "lo" in Spanish, "se" in Spanish, "ya" in Spanish. Learn Spanish for your everyday life here at Butterfly Spanish. Browse my channel and see what you need to learn. I make my videos with love, care, and knowledge, and my goal is that what you did not know yesterday you know today, that what you thought was complicated, is not, and that you know much more Spanish today after watching my videos, and that they make you feel more confident and positive: / butterflyspanish

[@vickiehenshaw1890]

This young woman is absolutely brilliant! Thank You, Ana!

[@Emmaraine101]

I learnt in an hour, what an online Spanish teacher has failed to do after seven weeks of lessons. Mil gracias a ti - you're very clear in explaining a tedious topic in Spanish.

[@geminmyeyes931]

OH No, I just signed for online lessons. Hopefully, I do not have the same experience. Good luck👍🏿👍🏿

[@Emmaraine101]

@@geminmyeyes931 hope it works out for you! Good luck 🍀

[@paulbradford6475]

@@geminmyeyes931 Where some teachers are better than others, or, some explain the same things differently than do other teachers, so too do some students learn at different rates or learn from different directions than other students. From each teacher, I can learn something. I, too, signed up for some online lessons. I needed the structure of regular lessons to keep me motivated. In my case, the lesson plan emphasizes reading stories where the stress is on getting the gist of the story at first. If the tale is engaging, so the sales pitch goes, you'll want to read more and will learn more as a result. Repeated readings will improve one's comprehension of the text. It's a different way of learning, but it's just as valid as other techniques. My quest at the moment is to find a precise definition of "indefinido" vs. "imperfecto." They both sound pretty vague to me. Ana has hinted at a definition I can use, but I'll keep searching. The internet is a big place with lots of teachers out there. I'm sure one of them has the answer I'm looking for.

[@patrickmuwanga3621]

I humbly need to get the outline of Spanish grammar

[@prepinhik2323]

The problem is they don’t go to the basic like they did when they taught us English

[@arizonawut]

I've taken 9 years of Spanish in HS and college. Ana has more skill than any of my instructors. Her energy and excitement is inspiring!

[@FLUBZERO]

Ana you broke this down so good . You're the best spanish teacher on the internet

[@fyagmury]

exactly, teaching perfect..

[@aobe1l342]

True

[@bradbaker4679]

Fact

[@Hastalaverga420]

Quit pole jocking

[@wonder_life_]

I've never listened to a better Spanish teacher!!

[@arua152]

Sometimes while watching your videos I get annoyed and think to myself "hurry up and move on Ana, I already understand it!" But that is because you are so good at simplifying things, I understand it very quickly. You are the best Spanish teacher I've seen, and I've had many in school and online!

[@stepha2642]

Not all of use understand it already.

[@saery4523]

Oh💀

[@nickandersonco]

Being taught about tenses ends up being strangely existential and philosophical. Thanks for the wisdom!

[@bikrambarua464]

Could there be a possible relation of memory , magical realism and the nuances of the ' imperfect ' ?

[@glennbeinfest1671]

Somewhere, in the cobwebs of my memory, I was probably taught this, in High School Spanish. A loooonnnngggg. Time ago. I am now in Mexico, for the fifth year, and still try to learn the language. You tackled a VERY difficult concept, and explained it very well. I makes LOTS of sense, and looks easy. Thank you, so much. I enjoy ALL your lessons.

[@lovemesomepollo]

"The lasting past" - very poetic indeed! Thank you for your extreme thoroughness.

[@cherylnielson4710]

You have an incredible talent for teaching. There are none better. You should be cloned and put in every school in the U.S. thanks.

[@tiandrajohnson3640]

Recuerdo cuando era mi primera vez aprendiendo español y nunca entendí nada y siempre veía tus videos y ahora puedo entender el español con fluidez y hablar también gracias butterfly spanish 💕💕

[@user-xp5lw5bw2v]

nunca entendia nada

[@myyoutube2324]

How long did it take you to be fluent?

[@nebaashibruce8793]

Hey maybe you can give me pointers by responding to my comment.

[@saery4523]

I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure it’s “me recuerdo” not just “recuerdo”

[@DantheManO36O]

1HR+ Best Spanish Teacher on KZbin 😊

[@maggie646]

Whenever I watch your videos, I can't stop smiling and laughing. I think my boyfriend is getting jealous 😂 Thank you for making learning Spanish easy and fun! There's no one I'd rather learn from ❤

[@sugatluniva6440]

You are the Best spanish teacher i have ever seen in you tube. Mil gracias Ana 🙏

[@invincible9017]

maestra estrella

[@AhmadGameI]

Best and most generous Spanish teacher

[@revpgesqredux]

Ana... You have a mighty intellect. This grows more obvious with each video I watch. Thank you for sharing your gift and expending your bilingual energy in pursuit of harmony and learning

[@nazyw]

Your are the most efficient Spanish teach on KZbin and of course most entertaining.

[@barrysullivan4507]

Maestra Ana, que bendición eres. Gracias por todas tus ejemplos y sus explicaciónes

[@levannguyen2058]

I finally found my Spanish teacher here. Ana is teacher of the year 2021. Mucha Gracias a ti 😘

[@saery4523]

How far you get?

[@Rachel-dt7yt]

you teach in a way that allows people to stay watching the entire lesson.

[@jordanrhodes8503]

Best Spanish teacher online period.

[@flabiandeflores5166]

You are the best spanish teacher on KZbin,.. super detailed.

[@spanishdancer6221]

Perfect lesson! I learned so much! Muchas gracias, Ana! Tu es la mejor de maestra de español.

[@TheBavaNeche]

Ana -- This talk was over the top in knowledge of that ANY person learning ANYTHING! Wow -- You're the Wizard of Knowledge Ville when it comes to describing so many things -- in this tense -- EVERYTHING! Muchos gracias.

[@davidkroeger835]

Thank you for being you!!!! Bless you for all you do!!

[@stevennelson3025]

May be your best lesson ever, thanks!

[@stonesosmooth]

Such a great video! So thorough and broken down for easier understanding. Thank you for taking the time to do it! I'm glad to have found Butterfly Spanish!

[@nealblair2437]

there is hope now. Grateful for these lessons, because I am taught Spanish and its a very understandable method of teaching. Perfecto.

[@evemuturi2692]

You have the funniest examples, makes the lessons memorable and topics easy to remember. Muchas gracias.

[@andrehunt3]

Let me be clear I mean in the beginning you speak a lot of English and I'm ready to learn Spanish but you're great you're a good teacher

[@lachelleduncan3229]

I love how she explains it!

[@yamaikoldelossantos337]

Hola amiga..trata de hablar con un nativo en especial con alguien que hable mucho

[@BamBam-vq2zb]

Okay, like WOW, i finalllly got it. She just wouldn't stop! Kept explaining with example AFTER example. I listened to this while driving but I'm going to watch it again over the weekend and take written notes because it's the most in-depth course on this topic I have found here. It's like sitting in a real live class. Muchas Gracias, Ana!

[@sebastiencarpentier9333]

Muchas gracias por este video. Your explanations are crystal clear and always on point. 👌

[@arizonawut]

Ana, I love you and am so happy that you now teach Vosotros!

[@JordanHunterOrlando]

Thank you so much! I was in Spanish class yesterday trying to learn this and was getting so frustrated. But you broke it down perfectly and now I feel very confident in my knowledge of this concept. Thank you!!!!

[@WolfgangDegreif]

Yo siempre estaba aprendiendo de forma divertida. Hay no más mejor de manera de enseñar. Muchas gracias.

[@michaleelliot]

Excellent lesson! One of the most comprehensive lesson on imperfecto.

[@oddjobgrrl]

Mil gracias por esa lección! Fue muy útil! Eres la mejor!!

[@lidiajohnston7280]

You’re an excellent teacher and very natural on the way you teach. There is only one thing that I need to mention and it is the sound of the letter V and the letter B. It seems that we Latinos don’t see the difference of the sounds we interchange them, but for Americans there is a definite difference. They get confused specially if they’re not looking on a written word like victory they only hear the sound of bictory because that’s how we are accustomed to say it. So watching you going over the verb to go vamos I see your lips saying bamos. I can see now how important it is to pronounce the words correctly as they’re written. Am learning a lot from you. Thank you.

[@Tankbottoms]

Ana, I love your style and your determination to be amazing!! You are beyond engaging. I have lived in Mexico and I wished I had you as a teacher!

[@charlesdavis9813]

I learned so much from this class!!! Thanks Anna!!! Great Job!!!

[@user-yr9ln3pw9b]

well done! it was a fine lesson. my spanish needs you! i hope to return in the future. thank you.

[@bentijones9217]

Ana, you are an amazing and engaging teacher! Thank you for helping me understand Spanish in a fun way.

[@yamaikoldelossantos337]

Hola...buenas suerte

[@AbbyPhilosophy]

This video is incredible!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ Do you have a video on using either “había or he/ha” bc those are so confusing for me and you are an incredible teacher. The length you go to describe and also show with examples is something i really appreciate

[@santoshdnyanmote5170]

Wow. First time I could understand the imperfecto so perfectly. Muchas gracias Ana

[@danflores8445]

What a great and easy to follow illustration. Thank you so much.

[@cagrikankan]

Sei una professoressa meravigliosa. Un metodo superiore per noi. Grazie mille.

[@christinel.7915]

Thank you so much Ana! You made it so clear now! I love your classes, they are truly amazing! ❤️🌈🌹

[@mehakidc6781]

we stan this channel for making me understand spanish enough to not fail class and actually want to learn the language again

[@rodrigorollorata3065]

Buenas dias maestra Ana. Estoy muy alegre escuchando tu leccion. Ensenas bien. Contigo estoy comensando hablar y escritar la idioma espanol. Gracias mucho.

[@abdellahelkamili8058]

Buenos días 🌻 muchas gracias por la clase de hoy 🙏 me gusto mucho todos los clases

[@Sirvirgilio]

This topic is super excellent! Well explained! Well done Ana!

[@dilyanaaleksandrova2541]

Saving to watch this later, as I'm short of time now. Thank you! 💙

[@gillesbelanger1090]

I'm learning Spanish. It's the same verb tense as imparfait in French that I teach. You gave a great explanation.

[@danielcantero1475]

Así me enseñaba español mi maestra,cuando vivía en Buenos Aires.Muy lindo todo. 🇦🇷🇦🇷

[@Spiller_18]

Es Argentin@ ???

[@cluckygirl792]

Brilliant! At last a long explanation which absolutely helps me see why and when we use imperfecto! I have given you a monetary thanks for your work. THANK YOU 🙏

[@riyamangla3754]

We missed you a lot. When you werent posting. Thanks for posting the video.

[@flo768068]

Hola Ana, gracias por tus vídeos. He aprendido mucho de ti. Me tomo la libertad de darte algunos consejos. Imperfecto es el nivel B1. Pierdes demasiado tiempo explicando la conjugación de los verbos. Los espectadores que ven este vídeo ya lo saben. Te deseo lo mejor

[@naishalubega3756]

Hace mucho tiempo sin verte profe...te quiero...you're the reason i didn't give up on Spanish ...gracias por la lección I needed to brush up on these 🥰✌🇺🇬🙂❤

[@Biometrics]

Hola! Saludos desde Kenia. Cuántos años pasaron cuando empezaste de estudiar Español?

[@naishalubega3756]

@@Biometrics Hola soy de Uganda, Encantada.!Bueno he estado estudiando por siete meses

[@Biometrics]

Bueno! Me alegro de encontre mi vecina aquí. Actually it was the UG flag that gave you away.

[@naishalubega3756]

@@Biometrics 😂de veras?

[@Biometrics]

@@naishalubega3756 Sí! Jajaja! I am contemplating changing my phone menu from Ingles to Español so that I learn fast. Besides learning online, do you attend physical Spanish classes?

[@janicegloster984]

Tu explicación de lo imperfecto fue perfecta!

[@sintamalutsintaanter1204]

Good lesson 🙏🙏🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@BreakNAllRecordsBARtv]

Hola. My favorite maestro. Gracias por la leccion. You're the best. My Spanish us getting way better.

[@Daffu152]

Hello my name is Leonardo I am from Chile, I speak Spanish and I would like to exchange languages specifically English

[@hobbes3]

Yup, verbs are the most important! For example, in Japanese a verb is the only required word in a sentence. You can just say one verb and that's a complete sentence (with a good context).

[@janicegloster984]

Same in English, such as “Go,” “Gone,” “Run,” “Sleep,” etc.

[@isaacandmary]

Although most of you worship Ana, I don't. Her teaching method is very confusing for various reasons. However, I want to give her props big time because she is real. She has been doing this a long time and I believe she genuinely wants her students to not only learn Spanish, but also to appreciate and understand her culture (perhaps to excess). Recently, there have been an influx of "Spanish teachers" onto YT. You can tell that they are just in it for clicks and subscriptions. They heard that people are making money on YT by doing something as simple as speaking their native language and they are jumping on the bandwagon. Their "lessons" are nothing more than them talking. They don't teach anything, They just speak Spanish, as you to give them a like and to subscribe to their channel. Ana has taken time to prepare. She is detailed with what she does. She instructs, and that takes a lot of time and effort. I truly appreciate that. We all know that she has to eat like everyone else, and now she is being rewarded for her years of diligence. She continues to streamline her methods and that is also greatly appreciated. Much respect to Ana. Not so much to the others.

[@Crispy_Anne]

You are a great teacher! I would love if you could break down present and past subjuntivo! I checked your Chanel but could not find a video on it specifically. I’ve looked into these tenses myself but with your way of explanation I feel like I would really grasp it! Thank you for all these lessons

[@amhcenter7669]

Really I love you. Dr lan From Egypt

[@aselalovesjoy7368]

Gracias ana por enseñarme. A veces, olvido mis lecciones pero agradezco que sus video son disponible para mi a ver. ❤

[@Mtnshell56]

Beautiful teaching. Thank you

[@zulkiflijamil4033]

Buenas dias, Ana from Butterfly Spanish. Even though I am new person but I find your channel excellent. Usted es una professora excelente. Me gusta su channel. Muchas gracias.

[@wendynelson3050]

Thank you so much for this excellent lesson.

[@alanstultz5550]

¡Me gusta tu sentido de humor! Tus descripciones son muy completas pero me gustaría oír más español. Eso sería útil ya que me cuesta entender el español hablado. ¡Gracias!

[@30framespersecondinc]

I just watched a second time and learned mor. You are amazing. I can't Walt for Nelson on Iba and Estaba. 🌹❤🌹❤

[@trevormason1732]

ana is the best spainsh teacher on the internet she is so full of life.

[@Biometrics]

Me has enseñe muchas cosas sobre la preterite imperfecto en la clase de hoy que no sabia. Gracias mi buen maestra.

[@naishalubega3756]

Me has enseñado (tiene que usar el presente perfecto después del verbo HABER..)

[@Biometrics]

Bueno, pero no se con "clarity" qué yo escribi aqui sera es correcto. Glad you found it helpful but I still feel that what I wrote up there is incorrect and there is a better way of conveying the same in Spanish.

[@naishalubega3756]

@@Biometrics there's always room for improving..

[@Biometrics]

@@naishalubega3756 That's true! I can't wait to attain that level where Spanish verbs conjugation does not fly over my head.

[@naishalubega3756]

@@Biometrics well me too🤣🤣ngl..have study groups?

[@sunnyxeggs7186]

muchas gracias ana ! im using your channel to learn spanish grammar and vocabulary and your videos are so helpful!

[@fatimazaiter8208]

Hi I am Algerian I am learning from your wonderful lessons and I have benefited from English and Spanish I I hope to communicate with you please make because a great teacher for me

[@CrochetOrKnotCrochet]

Que lección tan útil! Gracias! Casi estoy ahí para memorizar los tiempos🤓

[@dhananjay5352]

You are late to upload but be lated happy teacher's day Ana Ma'am ❤️ on 5th Sept Indians celebrate Teachers day. Your student from India 🇮🇳 🙏

[@eventhorbergsen9879]

Tu eres el mejor profesor de español de Internet, minucioso y entretenido. Noruego: Du er den flinkeste spansklæreren på Internett, grundig og underholdende

[@frdingsdb16]

Finally, I understand Imperfecto! Gracias!

[@aylinece5546]

Thank you for this great lesson 🌺🌺

[@user-yt9sj7pi6g]

Cuando era niño, no creía pudiera aprendir español .Gracias Ana.

[@lorrainekaiser5910]

You are such a good teacher!

[@bradbaker4679]

Thank you for this lesson

[@radhakrishnankk4762]

Disfruto tu clase. It's helping me to learn spanish.

[@aishwarryarao1199]

Hello Ana! Thankyou for teaching us spanish so well. Your videos are really helpful. Even I aspire to become a spanish teacher like you. So to begin with I am thinking of to start teaching in my college. So please me give some suggestions as to how should I give my demo lecture. Thank you! Lots of love from India❤

[@jake2925]

Ana, excellent lesson. I learned a great deal of information will watch the lesson several more times.

[@lananiman577]

You are a good teacher!

[@lovx1nq538]

I got it in the first 15 minutes!! Love You Ana!! ❤️

[@j.therenaissance6930]

Esta fue una gran lección. Estoy aprendiendo mucho de ti.

[@yamaikoldelossantos337]

Hola amigo...Sin embargo yo aprendo ingles..pero. Mi idioma es mas dificil. Que el tuyo

[@austinlang6946]

@@yamaikoldelossantos337 en de maneras espesíficas sí. Comparado con el ingles es al revés pero cuando formes la costumbre de hacerlo, el idioma de español se converte en más claro. Estaré de acuerdo que en general el español tiene más matiz. De cualquier manera con la práctica y la dedicación, cualquiera puede aprender

[@austinlang6946]

@@yamaikoldelossantos337 also sorry if some of that is unclear I’ve only been studying 3 1/2 months. I try my best lol

[@yamaikoldelossantos337]

@@austinlang6946 yes i learned in one school but as well. I continue Learning for myself

[@austinlang6946]

@@yamaikoldelossantos337 if you ever want help with English PM me!

[@ferdinandmirasol4148]

Thank you so much teacher!

[@laxmang.9139]

Ana... Ur great teacher....I watched ur all videos ......from India.... thanks

[@christietundunrock9155]

Ana this a good job God bless you

[@user-jd1si7hh5q]

Gracias, Dios te bendiga

[@juliec4750]

We say we “lost our train of thought.” I think En mis tiempos is equal to an older English speaker saying, “In MY day…” Also in English we pronounce epoch with our short e sound (first syllable) followed by the short u sound in the second syllable. So the second syllable would rhyme with tuck or luck. The emphasis would be on the first syllable. I’m not trying to be critical, I only want to be helpful. Thank you for making this video. It’s a super important one!

[@carletouk]

Brilliant lesson

[@sonqasawa2622]

Absolutamente magńifico! Ana, eres el mejor profesora de español! Muchas gracias Ana.

[@yamaikoldelossantos337]

Hola trate de hablar con nativo en español

[@joycekent7171]

Tu Eres la mejor gracias

[@Richwiking318]

Hello Anna.. Thank you for this lesson I was wondering where to find this lesson because you recommended it in your other video concerning Imperfecto.. Estoy muy feliz que yo por fin encontré esto video sobre Imperfecto y como lo crear y usar

[@trevercole4644]

Thank you so much your videos are fun to watch. Thank you