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Using the imperfect tense in Spanish to express habits or repeated actions in the past (El Pretérito Imperfecto)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Ana Matilla MA, BA

Last updated: 2024-11-11

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El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish for habits or repeated actions in the past

The Spanish tense El Pretérito Imperfecto is used to talk about habits in the past (used to) and to describe actions which were repeated in the past.

Read and listen to these examples:

Yo solía nadar todas las semanas cuando era pequeña.I used to swim every week when I was little.

Tú siempre volvías del trabajo a las 6.00 pm.You always came back from work at 6.00pm.

Edgar Degas siempre pintaba bailarinas y carreras de caballos.Edgar Degas always painted ballet dancers and horse races.

Nosotros comíamos mucho pescado en Valencia.We ate a lot of fish in Valencia.

Vosotros trabajabais en Madrid durante los años 80.You used to work in Madrid in the 80s.

Los actores firmaban autógrafos después de cada función.The actors signed autographs after each function.

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