The imperfect expresses an action, a fact, or a way of being placed in the past and described in their duration, in their repetition, or in their development:
- Quando ero piccola andavamo spesso a trovare i nonni in campagna.
- When I was little we often went to visit my grandparents in the countryside.
- Mentre passeggiavo ho incontrato Antonio.
- While I was walking I met Antonio.
Here are some common expressions that indicate the imperfect tense.
- Da giovane/ piccolo / bambino …lavoravo / giocavo…ecc.
- As a young / small / child … I worked / played …etc.
- Prima…poi.
- First…then.
- Quando ero piccolo/ giovane/ bambino.
- When I was little/young/child.
- Mentre giocavo / parlavo/ studiavo …ecc.
- While I was playing/talking/studying…etc.
1. The form of the imperfect tense.
The imperfect tense is formed by replacing the infinitive ending of each verb group (-are/-ere/-ire) with the following endings:
| Person | -are | -ere | -ire |
| io tu lui/lei noi voi loro | -avo -avi -ava -avamo -avate -avano | -evo -evi -eva -evamo -evate -evano | -ivo -ivi -iva -ivamo -ivate -ivano |
2. Uses of the imperfect tense.
- In narratives: the imperfect is the verb of the narrative because it serves to describe characters and places. All fairy tales begin with the imperfect tense:
- C’era una volta una principessa che viveva in uno splendido castello e sognava di incontrare il Principe Azzurro.
- Once upon a time there was a princess who lived in a splendid castle and dreamed of meeting Prince Charming.
- In descriptions:
- Agata era una donna speciale: portava i capelli corvini tagliati alla francese e aveva due occhi scuri che brillavano di gioia.
- Agata was a special woman: she wore her raven hair cropped in French style and she had two dark eyes that shone with joy.
- Durable actions: action presented as it unfolds, where neither the beginning nor the end is defined.
- Nel ‘78 abitavamo ancora a Palermo.
- In ’78 we still lived in Palermo.
- Alle 10,30 studiavo ancora.
- At 10.30 I was still studying.
- An action that lasts over time (started before the other and will probably continue after)
- Facevo/stavo facendo colazione.
- I was having breakfast.
- Ero a letto e leggevo.
- I was in bed and reading.
- Stavo inziando a studiare.
- I was starting to study.
- Prolonged actions in succession or parallel (narrative-news).
- Lo sorprendeva mentre si cambiava d’abito.
- She surprised him while he was changing his clothes.
- Il centrammi passava la palla alla punta di sinistra citala metteva in rete.
- The center forward passed the ball to the left striker and put it into the net.
- To express an action that is habitually repeated in the past:
- Quando ero piccola andavo a sciare tutti gli inverni.
- When I was little I went skiing every winter.
- Da bambina andavo a sciare tutte le domeniche.
- As a child I went skiing every Sunday.
- Mario, da giovane, dedicava alla lettura ogni momento libero che aveva disposizione.
- Mario, as a young man, dedicated every free moment he had to read.
The habitual imperfect is often accompanied by expressions and adverbs of frequency: spesso (often), di solito (usually), ogni giorno/mese/anno (every day/month/year), tutti i giorni/tutte le settimane (every day/every week), etc.
Contexts in which the imperfect tense can commonly be used:
- When the conversation resumes:
- Allora, come stavo dicendo, alle otto ho preso l’aereo.
- So, as I was saying, I got on the plane at eight.
- Scusa, che dicevi?
- Sorry, what were you saying?
- When you want to express a request with kindness, with modesty:
- Scusa, volevo chiederti se puoi prestarmi il tuo libro per un paio di giorni.
- Sorry, I wanted to ask if you could lend me your book for a couple of days.
- Al bar: Volevo un caffè e un cornetto.
- At the bar: I wanted a coffee and a croissant.