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Dos idiomas, dos culturas - los Nuyoricans: imperfect for habitual actions
I can distinguish between the present and imperfect tenses in the life of a Nuyorican.
Lesson 4 of 9
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Dos idiomas, dos culturas - los Nuyoricans: imperfect for habitual actions
I can distinguish between the present and imperfect tenses in the life of a Nuyorican.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The imperfect tense is used to talk about habitual actions in the past or to describe how things were in the past.
- The regular imperfect endings for singular -ar verbs are -aba, -abas and -aba.
- The regular imperfect endings for singular -er/-ir verbs are -ía, -ías and -ía.
- 'Ser' is irregular in the imperfect tense. Use 'era' or 'eras' to mean was/were + trait.
Keywords
Imperfect tense - used to talk about habitual actions in the past or to describe how things were in the past
Era - part of 'ser' in the imperfect tense meaning 'I, she, he, it was' or 'I, she, he, it used to be'
Common misconception
The only way of saying 'I played' in Spanish is 'jugué'.
'I played' could be translated as 'jugué' or 'jugaba'. The preterite verb 'jugué' implies a single, completed action in the past, whereas the imperfect verb 'jugaba' implies a habitual action in the past.
You could consider providing students with the relevant infinitive verbs for task B1 if additional scaffolding is neccesary.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Order the numbers from smallest to largest.
Order the numbers from smallest to largest.
Q2.Which word means 'heavy'?
Which word means 'heavy'?
gracioso
divertido
feliz
hermoso
Q3.Match the Spanish and English.
Match the Spanish and English.
Q4.Match the Spanish and English.
Match the Spanish and English.
Q5.Which sentences mean 'I played football'?
Which sentences mean 'I played football'?
Juego al fútbol.
Jugar al fútbol.
Jugaré al fútbol.
Q6.Write in English: 'Temo el conflicto'.
Write in English: 'Temo el conflicto'.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which verb is not in the imperfect tense?
Which verb is not in the imperfect tense?
veía
veías
eras
era
Q2.Match the Spanish and English.
Match the Spanish and English.
Q3.Which Spanish verbs would have an imperfect form ending in -aba?
Which Spanish verbs would have an imperfect form ending in -aba?
to have, having
to open, opening
to eat, eating
Q4.Order the words to say: 'I used to swim whereas you used to do homework'.
Order the words to say: 'I used to swim whereas you used to do homework'.
Q5.Write in Spanish: 'I used to live with my family'.
Write in Spanish: 'I used to live with my family'.
Q6.Write in Spanish: 'He used to inform the people'.
Write in Spanish: 'He used to inform the people'.
