Imperfect
I was walking (caminar)
caminaba
I was watching TV when the phone rang. (mirar/sonar)
Miraba la tele cuando sonó el teléfono.
Here you have an ongoing action (imperfect) with an interrupting action (preterite).
Nurses needed.
Se necesitan enfermeras.
alegre
alegremente
doctor's office
el consultorio
She was eating (comer)
comía
She was drawing while she was listening to music. (dibujar/escuchar)
Ella dibujaba mientras escuchaba la música.
(When you have two ongoing actions (your clue is 'mientras') use the imperfect for both verbs)
Spanish spoken.
Se habla español.
(Note that languages are not capitalized)
gradual
gradualmente
head ache
dolor de cabeza
They used to write (escribir)
escribían
Suddenly, the phone rang. (sonar)
De repente, sonó el teléfono.
(When things happen 'suddenly' or 'immediately', use preterite)
I forgot my keys at home. (Use the "accidental se")
Se me olvidaron las llaves en casa.
maravilloso
maravillosamente
el resfriado
I was/used to be - ser
era
The women were tall and friendly.
Las mujeres eran altas y amables.
(Use 'ser' in the imperfect to describe phsycial description and personality traits)
The waitress broke the dishes. (accidental 'se')
A la camarera se le rompieron los platos.
afortunado
afotunadamente
emergency room
la sala de emergencias
they were going/they used to go (ir)
iban
It was 4:30 pm.
Eran las cuatro y media de la tarde.
(Use the imperfect to talk about time in the past)
You dropped the cup. (caer/la taza)
Se te cayó la taza.
For sentences involving the accidental 'se':
1. Always start your sentences with 'se'
2. Add the indirect object pronoun (to whom is the action happening?)
3. Make the verb agree with the object (in this case: la taza)
frecuente
frecuentemente
symptom
el síntoma
Review vocab on p.366. Be prepared to describe pictures of people and their symptoms.