Question

How to tell when there is an imperfect tense verb.

Answer 1

The IMPERFECT is one of the two types of past-tense, in Spanish.

We use the imperfect,
whenever we're talking about a past action that was ON-GOING,
and happened on a REGULAR BASIS,
for an EXTENDED amount of time.

For example, take a look at this sentence:

"Cuando era niño, yo salía con mis amigos todos los días."
When I was a boy, I went out with my friends every day.

In this sentence, we see two imperfect verbs: "era", and "salía."

"Era" means "was."
I used it to say "When I WAS a boy."

I had to use the imperfect,
because I was a boy, for a LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I wasn't just a boy for one moment in time, you see?
I was a boy, for MANY YEARS.
An EXTENDED amount of time.

"Salía" means "went out."
I used it to say "I WENT OUT with my friends, everyday."

I had to use the imperfect,
because I USED TO go out with my friends, on a REGULAR BASIS.
It didn't just happen just one time, you see?