Regular -er and -ir Verbs in Imperfect

Think of the Preterite as a snapshot. It is a single photo of a finished moment. Now, think of the Imperfect as a video. It shows things happening over time. It describes states of being. It describes ongoing actions that don't have a clear end. If you are describing the weather, use the Imperfect. If you are describing your childhood home, use the Imperfect. It is like a grammar traffic light that stays yellow. It keeps the action moving without stopping it completely. You are not saying "I did it." You are saying "I was doing it" or "I used to do it." This distinction is vital for clear communication. It helps your listener understand the flow of time. It tells them if an action was a one-time event or a routine.

1. 1Forming these verbs is a total breeze. Seriously, you are going to love this part. Both -er and -ir verbs share the exact same endings. This is like a "buy one, get one free" deal for your brain. Here is the step-by-step process:
2. 2Start with the infinitive form of the verb (like comer or abrir).
3. 3Remove the last two letters (-er or -ir). This gives you the stem.
4. 4Add the following endings to the stem:
5. 5For eu: add -ia
6. 6For tu: add -ias
7. 7For ele/ela/você: add -ia
8. 8For nós: add -íamos (Watch that accent!)
9. 9For vós: add -íeis (Rarely used, but good to know.)
10. 10For eles/elas/vocês: add -iam
11. 11That is it! You are done. Notice that the eu and ele/ela/você forms are identical. Context will tell your listener who you are talking about. If it is confusing, just add the pronoun.

Use this tense for your old habits. Maybe you comia (used to eat) pizza every Friday. Use it for descriptions in the past. "The house tinha (had) blue doors." Use it for age. In Portuguese, you "had" years. "Eu tinha vinte anos." Use it for simultaneous actions. "I leia (was reading) while he dormia (was sleeping)." It is perfect for setting the scene. Imagine you are telling a story about a trip. You describe the mountains. You describe the cold wind. You describe the coffee you bebia (were drinking). All of these use the Imperfect. It also works for polite requests. Sometimes, instead of saying "I want," you say "I was wanting." It sounds much softer. "Eu queria um café, por favor." It is the secret to being polite without trying too hard.

Do not use this for specific, completed actions. If you did something once and it finished, use the Preterite. For example, "Yesterday I comi (ate) a sandwich." That is a finished event. It is a single point on a timeline. Do not use it for actions with a specific duration. "I lived there for five years" usually takes the Preterite. The Imperfect is for the "vibe," not the "deadline." If you can put a specific clock time on the completion, skip the Imperfect. Think of it like this: if it is a "done deal," it is not Imperfect. Even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Don't sweat it too much. Just remember: routine vs. one-off event.

The biggest trap is the accent on the nós form. People often write comiamos instead of comíamos. That little mark over the í is important. It changes the stress of the word. Another mistake is mixing up the eu and você forms. Since they look the same, learners sometimes get lost. Just use the pronoun if you feel unsure. Some people also try to use the -ava endings from -ar verbs. Remember, -er and -ir verbs are a different family. They prefer the -ia sound. It sounds more elegant, doesn't it? Finally, don't use the Imperfect for things that just happened a second ago. That is usually the Preterite.

The main rival of the Imperfect is the Preterite. The Preterite is for the "what happened." The Imperfect is for the "how things were." Imagine a crime movie. The Preterite is the gunshot. The Imperfect is the dark, rainy night leading up to it. In English, we often use "used to" for the Imperfect. "I used to run." In Portuguese, you just use one word: corria. We also use "was/were -ing." "They were eating." In Portuguese: comiam. It is much more efficient than English! You don't need the extra helper verbs. Just the main verb and its shiny new ending.