túimperfect

Túimperfect is a pedagogical label used to refer to the imperfect tense as it is formed and used with the second-person singular pronoun tú in languages that maintain an informal you form, most notably Spanish. The term describes past actions that were ongoing, habitual, or not completed at a past reference point. In Spanish, the imperfect tense (pretérito imperfecto) is used to set scenes, describe backgrounds, or talk about actions regularly repeated in the past.

Conjugation patterns for Spanish in the tú form: for -ar verbs the endings are -abas (for example, hablar → hablabas); for -er and -ir verbs the endings are -ías (for example, comer → comías; vivir → vivías). Irregular forms in the imperfect are limited, with common examples including tú eras (ser), tú ibas (ir), and tú veías (ver).

Usage notes: The tú imperfect conveys actions that were habitual in the past, descriptions, or mental or physical states at a past time. It often contrasts with the preterite (pretérito indefinido), which expresses completed actions, as in tú hablaste vs. tú hablabas. The distinction is important for accurate past narration and for conveying nuances of timing and aspect.

Cross-linguistic notes: Similar imperfect forms exist in other Romance languages that use tú, though endings vary by language. The term “tú imperfect” is most common in Spanish-language teaching materials as a way to emphasize the second-person singular perspective in past storytelling.

See also: pretérito imperfecto, imperfect in other languages (for example, French imparfait), Spanish grammar.