The imperfect tense in English : complete course

What Is the Imperfect in English?

The imperfect tense is a way of talking about actions or situations in the past that were ongoing, repeated, or used to happen regularly. Unlike the simple past, which describes a finished action, the imperfect focuses on the background or habit behind the action. In English, this idea is expressed in a few different ways, which makes it a very useful concept to understand.

Simple Examples to Get Started

• I was reading a book when the phone rang.
• She used to walk to school every day.
• They would visit their grandparents every summer.
• He was living in Paris at that time.

As you can see, these sentences describe situations that were happening over time or were regular habits in the past.

The Key Elements of the Imperfect in English

English does not have one single imperfect form like French or Spanish. Instead, it uses three main structures to express the same idea. Let’s look at each one.

1. ‘Was/Were + Verb-ing’ (Past Continuous)

This form is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past. It gives the idea of something ongoing or interrupted.

• I was cooking dinner when she arrived.
• We were playing football all afternoon.
• He was not listening during the meeting.

2. ‘Used to + Verb’

This structure expresses a past habit or a situation that was true in the past but is no longer true today. It is very common and easy to use.

• I used to drink coffee every morning, but now I prefer tea.
• She used to live in New York.
• They used to play together when they were children.

3. ‘Would + Verb’ (for repeated past actions)

This form is often used in stories or descriptions to talk about repeated or habitual actions in the past. It sounds a little more formal or literary.

• Every Sunday, he would wake up early and go fishing.
• As a child, she would read books for hours.
• We would always stop at that little café on the way home.

Why the Imperfect in English Matters

Understanding how to talk about past habits and ongoing situations helps you tell stories, describe your childhood, and explain context. It makes your English sound more natural and fluent. Without these structures, your sentences can feel too simple or even confusing for a listener.

For example, there is a big difference between:

• ‘I walked to school.’ (a single, finished action)
• ‘I used to walk to school.’ (a past habit that is no longer true)
• ‘I was walking to school.’ (an action in progress at a moment in the past)

Each sentence tells a different story. Knowing which one to use is an important part of communicating clearly in English.

Comparison with Other Languages

If you speak French or Spanish, you already know the concept of the imperfect well, because those languages have a specific verb form for it. In English, the idea is the same, but the grammar works differently.

The key difference is that English speakers must choose the right structure depending on the context, while French and Spanish use one form for most imperfect situations. This is why English learners from these languages sometimes find this topic a little tricky at first.

A Complete Example

Here is a short paragraph using all three imperfect structures in context:

‘When I was a child, I used to live in a small village near the sea. Every morning, my father would wake up early and go for a walk on the beach. I was always sleeping when he came back. Those were peaceful times.’

Notice how each structure plays a different role: ‘used to live’ describes a past situation that has changed, ‘would wake up’ shows a regular habit, and ‘was sleeping’ describes an action in progress at a specific moment.

Key Points to Remember

• English expresses the imperfect using three main structures, not one single form.
• Use was/were + verb-ing for ongoing actions in the past.
• Use used to + verb for past habits or states that are no longer true.
• Use would + verb for repeated past actions, especially in stories.
• The choice between these forms depends on the context and meaning you want to express.
• These structures help your English sound natural when talking about the past.

Sources

• Swan, M. (2005). Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press.
• Murphy, R. (2019). English Grammar in Use (5th edition). Cambridge University Press.
• Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., and Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Pearson Education.