Imperfect of ir: iba, ibas, iba...

The imperfect tense describes the past as an ongoing state. It does not care about when an action finished. When you use iba, you are usually saying "I used to go" or "I was going." It is like a grammar traffic light that stays yellow. You are moving through time, but you haven't hit the red light yet. In English, we often use "used to" or "would" for this. For example, "I would go to the park every day." In Spanish, that whole phrase "would go" is packed into one word: iba. It creates a sense of continuity. It is perfect for telling stories. You use it to describe the background before something big happens. Imagine you are painting a picture of your past. Iba provides the colors and the setting. It is not the sudden lightning bolt; it is the steady rain. This verb is your best friend for long-winded stories about the "good old days."

1. 1Forming the imperfect of ir is surprisingly simple. Even though it is irregular, the pattern is very consistent.
2. 2Forget the original verb ir entirely for a moment.
3. 3Use the base ib- for every single person.
4. 4Add the specific "-a" endings to that base.
5. 5Place an accent only on the nosotros form.
6. 6Here is the breakdown:
7. 7For yo, add -a to get iba.
8. 8For tú, add -as to get ibas.
9. 9For él/ella/usted, add -a to get iba (yes, it is the same as yo).
10. 10For nosotros, add -amos and the accent to get íbamos.
11. 11For vosotros, add -ais to get ibais.
12. 12For ellos/ellas/ustedes, add -an to get iban.
13. 13Notice how the yo and él forms are identical? That is a common feature in this tense. You will rely on context to know who is going where. It is like a baby's first words: "iba, iba!" Just with more grammatical weight.

You will use iba in four main real-world scenarios. First, use it for childhood habits. If you went to your grandma’s every Sunday, you use iba. "I used to go to my grandma’s house" becomes Iba a casa de mi abuela. Second, use it for "was going" situations. This is usually when you are interrupted. "I was going to the store when I saw Juan." Iba a la tienda cuando vi a Juan. Third, use it for intentions that didn't happen. "I was going to call you, but I forgot." Iba a llamarte, pero se me olvidó. This is a classic excuse for everyone. Fourth, use it to describe a path or a setting. "The road went through the mountains." El camino iba por las montañas. It is also great for travel stories. If you are describing your daily commute in a new city, iba is your go-to. It makes your descriptions feel alive and flowing.

Do not use iba for a one-time trip with a clear end. If you went to Paris once last summer, use the preterite fui. Iba suggests you went there repeatedly or were in the middle of the flight. Think of it like a movie. If you are showing the whole movie from start to finish, use fui. If you are zooming in on a specific scene where you were walking, use iba. Also, do not use it for specific numbers of times. If you say "I went three times," you must use fui. Iba hates specific numbers. It prefers vague, dreamy timeframes like "always" or "often." If you can put a clock or a calendar on the action, you probably need a different tense. Using iba for a single, completed action is like trying to use a slow-motion camera for a 100-meter dash. It just feels out of sync with the reality of the event.

The biggest trap is the accent mark. Only nosotros gets an accent: íbamos. Many people try to put accents on all the forms. Don't be that person. Another mistake is mixing up yo and él. Since they both use iba, it can be confusing. If there is any doubt, add the pronoun. Yo iba vs Él iba. Also, watch out for the "b" vs "v" confusion. The imperfect uses a "b" (iba), but some learners try to use a "v" because of other tenses. Remember: "B" is for the past, "V" is for the present (like voy). Finally, don't confuse iba with veía (the imperfect of ver). They sound a bit similar if you are speaking fast. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Think of it like a grammar slip-up at a family dinner. Everyone knows what you mean, but it's better to get it right.

You must understand the difference between iba and fui. Fui is a completed action. It is a dot on a timeline. Iba is a line. If you say Fui al cine, you went, watched the movie, and came home. The story is over. If you say Iba al cine, you were on your way. Maybe something happened. Maybe you met a friend. Or maybe you just did it every Friday night. Another contrast is with the present tense voy. Use voy for what you are doing now. Use iba for the "past version" of yourself. It is the difference between your current life and your "vintage" life. Comparing these two is like looking at a current photo versus a sepia-toned one. Iba is the sepia filter of Spanish verbs. It adds warmth and context to your speech that the preterite simply cannot provide.