1. Educación

¿Cómo eras?
Learning to talk about the past using
the imperfect tense.
The imperfect tense
We use the imperfect tense when talking about cetains situations in the past:
1. When talking about what used to happen , or repeated actions e.g.
I used to go to primary school
Iba a la escuela primaria
I ate chocolate every day
Comia chocolate todos los días.
2. When describing incomplete actions:
I was writing a letter
Escribía una carta
We were drinking beer
Bebíamos cerveza
3. When describing things in the past:
The lesson was boring
La clase era aburrida.
I was short and skinny
Era baja y flaca.
To form the imperfect tense follow this rule:
Take the –ar, -er, -r –ir ending of the infinitive and add the following endings:
comprar – to buy
comer – to eat
vivir – to live
compraba
comía
vivía
comías
vivías
comía
vivía
comíamos
vivíamos
You comprabais
comíais
vivíais
They compraban
comían
vivían
I
You comprabas
He/she/it compraba
We
comprábamos
Quick test: Work out how to say:
tenía
1. I used to have (tener)
2. She used to sing (cantar) cantaba
3. They used to write (escribir) escribían
There are only 3 irregular verbs in the imperfect tense!
Ir-To go
iba
I used to go
ibas
you used to go
iba
He/She/it used to go
ibamos We used to go
ibais
You used to go
iban
They used to go
Ser- to be
era
I used to be
eras
you used to be
era
He/She/It used to be
éramos We used to be
erais
You used to be
eran
They used to be
Ver- to see
veía
I used to see
veías
You used to see
veía
He/She/it used to see
veíamos We used to see
veíais
you used to see
veían
They used to see
Task 1:
Underline all verbs in the
imperfect tense.
Task 2:
Find the Spanish for:
1.When I was very young:
_____________________________
2. At the age of:
_____________________________
Cuando era muy joven vivía con mis padres y mi
hermano en una casa pequeña en Wellington. A la
edad de cinco años, tenía el pelo largo, rubio y rizado
y era bastante baja. En cuanto a mi personalidad, era
feliz y habladora pero era muy timida, no me gustaba
hablar con los adultos desconocidos, por ejemplo los
amigos de mis padres.
Siempre comía bocadillos de mermelada y bebía
mucha leche. Todos los días iba al prescolar con mis
amigos donde me gustaba jugar y cantar.
Veía muchas programas de televisión, por ejemplo
“The Wombles” y “ Chorlton and the Wheelies”.
Ahora soy muy distinta; odio la mermelada y no me
gusta cantar porque ¡ tengo una voz como un gato
estrangulado! Ya no soy tímida, al contrario soy muy
habladora.
3. As for my personality:
_____________________________
4. I didn’t like to talk:
_____________________________
5. Strange adults:
_____________________________
6. Always:_____________________
7.Every day:___________________
8. Write the two words for’now’:
______________ and _____
9.On the contrary:
_________________________________
Los deberes
Adapt the passage you have just read and write 150 words about what you were like as a
child. The title is “Cuando era muy joven”.Include the following:
1. At least ten different verbs in the imperfect tense.
2. Sentence extenders- use my passage and adapt it with phrases that make your writing
more interesting such as ‘on the contrary’ and anything else you find on your vocab
sheets.
3. Use a range of connectives (Por lo tanto, pero, y, además, desafortunadamente etc)
4. Like I have, include information at the end about how you have changed.
5. Most importantly, include a photograph of yourself (either glue it on your written work or
attach it to a word document and print) and DO NOT put your name on the work- so that
we can guess who is who after ½ term.
Part 2 – Log onto vocab express and go to ‘Foundation Tier Topics’ ‘ Relationship and
Choices’then learn BOTH sections ‘future plans etc’ and ‘Social issues and equality’ (All
blocks) ready for when we come back after half term. Do not attempt to learn it all over
just a few days- you should dedicate 15 mins a day in order to learn successfully.