The imperfect past tense (l’imperfetto), sometimes called the descriptive past, is generally used to convey actions in progress in the past. It can have a number of English equivalents:
To form l’imperfetto, you add an appropriate ending to the verb stem. The following table gives the complete conjugations of regular verbs in -are, -ere, and -ire. The endings added to the stem are in bold.
There are a number of verbs which are irregular in the imperfetto; these verbs use their original Latin or archaic Italian stem when they are conjugated. Following is a table showing the imperfect conjugations for four commonly used irregular verbs.
NB: C’era and c’erano are the imperfect forms of c’è and ci sono. They correspond, respectively, to the English there was and there were.
| io cantavo | --> | I was singing I used to sing I sang I did sing I would sing |
To form l’imperfetto, you add an appropriate ending to the verb stem. The following table gives the complete conjugations of regular verbs in -are, -ere, and -ire. The endings added to the stem are in bold.
parlare | credere | finire |
| parlavo | credevo | finivo |
| parlavi | credevi | finivi |
| parlava | credeva | finiva |
| parlavamo | credevamo | finivamo |
| parlavate | credevate | finivate |
| parlavano | credevano | finivano |
There are a number of verbs which are irregular in the imperfetto; these verbs use their original Latin or archaic Italian stem when they are conjugated. Following is a table showing the imperfect conjugations for four commonly used irregular verbs.
essere | bere | dire | fare |
| ero | bevevo | dicevo | facevo |
| eri | bevevi | dicevi | facevi |
| era | beveva | diceva | faceva |
| eravamo | bevevamo | dicevamo | facevamo |
| eravate | bevevate | dicevate | facevate |
| erano | bevevano | dicevano | facevano |
NB: C’era and c’erano are the imperfect forms of c’è and ci sono. They correspond, respectively, to the English there was and there were.
Examples and uses:
- The imperfect is used to describe habitual actions in the past. Expressions which commonly accompany the imperfect are sempre, di solito, ogni giorno/mese/anno, tutti i giorni/mesi/anni, as well as others.
Andavamo in montagna tutte le domeniche.
We used to go to the mountains every Sunday.
D’estate Maurizio lavorava sempre.
In the summer, Maurizio would always work.
Di solito giocavano a tennis.
They would usually play tennis. - The imperfect is used to describe a mental or physical state in the past, as well time, weather, and age.
I miei genitori erano sempre molto attivi.
My parents were always very active.
Non mi sentivo tanto bene.
I wasn’t feeling too well.
Quand’era bambino, Brad era molto allegro.
When he was a baby, Brad was very happy.
Non sapevate niente?
You didn’t know anything?
Avevo dieci anni quando quando arrivarono.
I was 10 years old when they arrived.
Erano le otto di mattina e faceva molto freddo.
It was 8am and it was very cold. - The imperfect is used to describe ongoing actions in the past.
Leggevano mentre aspettavano il treno.
They were reading while they were waiting for the train.
Mia sorella dormiva mentre cucinavamo.
My sister was sleeping while we were cooking. - The imperfect can be used to convey since when or for how long something had been happening in the past. In these cases, either da or che can be used in conjunction with verbs conjugated in the imperfect. Observe the following questions and answers.
- Da quanto tempo aspettavi?
- Aspettavo da tre ore!
- How long were you waiting?
- I was waiting for three hours!
- Quanto tempo era che aspettavi?
- Erano tre ore che aspettavo!
- How long were you waiting?
- I was waiting for three hours!
- Da quanto tempo eri in Germania?
- Ero in Germania da un mese.
- How long were you in Germany?
- I was in Germany for one month.
- Quanto tempo era che eri in Germania?
- Era un mese che ero in Germania.
- How long were you in Germany?
- I was in Germany for one month.