Latin A2: How things were: the imperfect · Phrases

The imperfect describes what was going on, used to happen or went on for a while. Add -ba- and the endings -m, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt: amabam, amabas, amabat, amabamus, amabatis, amabant. Other verbs: monebam, regebam, audiebam. esse is irregular: eram, eras, erat, eramus, eratis, erant.

• eram — I was
• habitabam — I used to live
• olim — once, long ago
• saepe — often
• dum — while
• diu — for a long time
• tum — then, at that time
• ludere — to play

• Olim rex in hac urbe habitabat. — Once upon a time a king lived in this city.
• Saepe in horto ludebamus. — We often used to play in the garden.
• Ubi eras? — Where were you?
• Dum dormiebas, pluebat. — While you were sleeping, it was raining.