Language/Latin/Grammar/Imperfect-Tense
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The imperfect tense is a verb tense used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past. In English, the imperfect tense is usually formed by adding "-ed" or "-ing" to the end of a verb. In Latin, the imperfect tense has its own unique endings that are added to the stem of the verb. In this lesson, you will learn about the formation of the imperfect tense in Latin, as well as its conjugations, regular and irregular verbs, and their usage in sentences.
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Future Tense & Negation.
Formation of the Imperfect Tense[edit | edit source]
The imperfect tense is formed by adding the appropriate imperfect endings to the present stem of the verb. To find the present stem, drop the -re ending from the infinitive form of the verb. Here are the imperfect endings for each conjugation:
First Conjugation[edit | edit source]
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| amabam | /a'ma.bam/ | I was loving/am loving/would love |
| amabas | /a'ma.bas/ | You were loving/are loving/would love |
| amabat | /a'ma.bat/ | He/she/it was loving/is loving/would love |
| amabamus | /a.ma'ba.mus/ | We were loving/are loving/would love |
| amabatis | /a.ma'ba.tis/ | You (plural) were loving/are loving/would love |
| amabant | /a'ma.bant/ | They were loving/are loving/would love |
Second Conjugation[edit | edit source]
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| videbam | /wi'de.bam/ | I was seeing/am seeing/would see |
| videbas | /wi.de'bas/ | You were seeing/are seeing/would see |
| videbat | /wi.de'bat/ | He/she/it was seeing/is seeing/would see |
| videbamus | /wi.de'ba.mus/ | We were seeing/are seeing/would see |
| videbatis | /wi.de'ba.tis/ | You (plural) were seeing/are seeing/would see |
| videbant | /wi'de.bant/ | They were seeing/are seeing/would see |
Third Conjugation[edit | edit source]
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ducēbam | /du'ke.bam/ | I was leading/am leading/would lead |
| ducēbas | /du'ke.bas/ | You were leading/are leading/would lead |
| ducēbat | /du'ke.bat/ | He/she/it was leading/is leading/would lead |
| ducēbamus | /du.ke'ba.mus/ | We were leading/are leading/would lead |
| ducēbatis | /du.ke'ba.tis/ | You (plural) were leading/are leading/would lead |
| ducēbant | /du'ke.bant/ | They were leading/are leading/would lead |
Fourth Conjugation[edit | edit source]
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| audīēbam | /au'di.e.bam/ | I was hearing/am hearing/would hear |
| audīēbas | /au.di'e.bas/ | You were hearing/are hearing/would hear |
| audīēbat | /au.di'e.bat/ | He/she/it was hearing/is hearing/would hear |
| audīēbamus | /au.di.'e.ba.mus/ | We were hearing/are hearing/would hear |
| audīēbatis | /au.di.'e.ba.tis/ | You (plural) were hearing/are hearing/would hear |
| audīēbant | /au'di.e.bant/ | They were hearing/are hearing/would hear |
Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]
Just like with the present tense, there are some irregular verbs that do not follow the typical conjugation patterns in the imperfect tense. For example:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| esse | /'es.se/ | I was/am/would be |
| posse | /'pos.se/ | I was able to/am able to/would be able to |
| ire | /'i.re/ | I was going/am going/would go |
| velle | /'wel.le/ | I was wanting/am wanting/would want |
These verbs have their own distinctive imperfect tense forms, which you will need to memorize.
Regular and Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect Tense[edit | edit source]
The imperfect tense is used to describe actions that were repeated or ongoing in the past. To use the imperfect tense, you need to conjugate the verb according to the subject, and then add an appropriate ending to the verb stem.
- To form the imperfect tense for regular verbs, simply add the appropriate ending to the present stem of the verb.
- Irregular verbs have their own distinct forms, which must be memorized on a case-by-case basis.
Regular Verbs[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples of regular verbs conjugated in the imperfect tense:
- amo, amas, amat ("I love, you love, he/she/it loves") → amabam, amabas, amabat ("I was loving/am loving/would love, you were loving/are loving/would love, he/she/it was loving/is loving/would love")
- habeo, habes, habet ("I have, you have, he/she/it has") → habebam, habebas, habebat ("I was having/am having/would have, you were having/are having/would have, he/she/it was having/is having/would have")
- capio, capis, capit ("I take, you take, he/she/it takes") → capiebam, capiebas, capiebat ("I was taking/am taking/would take, you were taking/are taking/would take, he/she/it was taking/is taking/would take")
Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples of irregular verbs in the imperfect tense:
- sum, es, est ("I am, you are, he/she/it is") → eram, eras, erat ("I was/am/would be, you were/are/would be, he/she/it was/is/would be")
- possum, potes, potest ("I am able to, you are able to, he/she/it is able to") → poteram, poteras, poterat ("I was able to/am able to/would be able to, you were able to/are able to/would be able to, he/she/it was able to/is able to/would be able to")
- volo, vis, vult ("I want, you want, he/she/it wants") → volebam, volebas, volebat ("I was wanting/am wanting/would want, you were wanting/are wanting/would want, he/she/it was wanting/is wanting/would want")
Usage of the Imperfect Tense[edit | edit source]
The imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past. When we use the imperfect tense, we are focusing on the fact that the action was in progress, rather than its completion.
Here are some examples of sentences using the imperfect tense:
- Horatius canēbat. ("Horatius was singing.")
- Puella rosās ab agricolā portābat. ("The girl was carrying roses from the farmer.")
- Cicerō multās librōs scrībebat. ("Cicero was writing many books.")
- Plātō philosophiam docēbat. ("Plato was teaching philosophy.")
In each of these examples, we are describing an ongoing or repeated action in the past. It is important to note that the imperfect tense does not specify when the action started or stopped, only that it was ongoing or repeated.
The imperfect tense can also be used to describe a past condition that is no longer true. For example:
- Caesar magnus dux erat. ("Caesar was a great leader.")
In this case, we are describing a characteristic of Caesar that was true at one point in the past but is no longer true in the present.
Summary[edit | edit source]
The imperfect tense is a verb tense used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past. To form the imperfect tense, you need to conjugate the verb according to the subject, and then add an appropriate ending to the verb stem. Regular verbs use a set of standard endings, while irregular verbs have their own unique forms that must be memorized. In Latin, the imperfect tense does not specify when the action started or stopped, only that it was ongoing or repeated. It can also be used to describe a past condition that is no longer true. By learning the imperfect tense, you will be able to describe past events in a more nuanced and accurate way.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Pronouns
- 0 to A1 Course
- Indefinite Articles in Latin
- Questions
- Definite Articles in Latin
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- Present Tense
- How to Use Have
- Parts of speech Latin
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Lesson 1 - Imperfect tense - Latin
- Latin Grammar Review Sheets: imperfect tense, Conjugations 1 and 2
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