Spanish grammar
Ser, ir y ver en el imperfecto
Describe what a place was like and what you used to do there.
From the scene Era, iba, veía (It was, I went, I saw)
In short
Only ser, ir and ver are irregular in the imperfect: era, iba, veía. Learn them by heart.
- it / he was era
- they were eran
- I used to go iba
- we used to go íbamos
- I / we used to see veía / veíamos
Your turn
Which one goes with they were?
Options: eran · era · iba
Show answer
they were → eran
How it works
Only three verbs are irregular in the imperfect: ser → era / eran, ir → iba / íbamos, ver → veía / veíamos. Learn them by heart.
it / he was era
Nuria
Esta plaza era mi favorita.
This square was my favourite.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Esta plaza (blank) mi favorita.
Options: era · eran · iba
Show answer
Nuria
Esta plaza era mi favorita.
This square was my favourite.
they were eran
Nuria
Sí, pero los vecinos eran como una familia.
Yes, but the neighbours were like a family.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sí, pero los vecinos (blank) como una familia.
Options: íbamos · eran · iba
Show answer
Nuria
Sí, pero los vecinos eran como una familia.
Yes, but the neighbours were like a family.
I used to go iba
Nuria
Los domingos, iba a misa con mi abuela.
On Sundays, I used to go to mass with my grandmother.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Los domingos, (blank) a misa con mi abuela.
Options: eran · iba · era
Show answer
Nuria
Los domingos, iba a misa con mi abuela.
On Sundays, I used to go to mass with my grandmother.
we used to go íbamos
Nuria
Era muy guapo. Todas íbamos a misa.
He was very handsome. We all used to go to mass.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Era muy guapo. Todas (blank) a misa.
Options: iba · íbamos · eran
Show answer
Nuria
Era muy guapo. Todas íbamos a misa.
He was very handsome. We all used to go to mass.
I / we used to see veía / veíamos
Nuria
Y mis amigas y yo veíamos al hijo del panadero.
And my friends and I used to see the baker’s son.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y mis amigas y yo (blank) al hijo del panadero.
Options: veíamos · era · eran
Show answer
Nuria
Y mis amigas y yo veíamos al hijo del panadero.
And my friends and I used to see the baker’s son.
Common mistake
Not veían or veía here. My friends and I = we.
Y mis amigas y yo veíamos al hijo del panadero.
And my friends and I used to see the baker’s son.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| it / he was | era |
|---|---|
| they were | eran |
| I used to go | iba |
| we used to go | íbamos |
| I / we used to see | veía / veíamos |
More lines from the story
- NuriaVeía el mar y las montañas.I used to see the sea and the mountains.