Spanish imperfect past tense in English

Question

How many ways can the Spanish imperfect past tense be expressed in English?

Answer 1

With "used to"	When I was young I used to play at the park for hours on end.
With "would"	When I was young I would play at the park for hours on end.
With "could"	When I was young I could run very fast.
With the past progressive	I found a five dollar bill while I was playing at the park.
With the simple past	When I was young, my hair was extremely curly.

Acertaste otra vez, compadre! - mountaingirl123, Oct 26, 2011

Gracias Iza - that is just what I was looking for. - ian-hill, Oct 27, 2011

Answer 2

My verb book gives a very useful example of "Going to" do something in the past, using the construction Ir (imperfect) + a + infinitive:

(Yo) iba a comprar un coche - I was going to buy a car

?Ibas a llamarme? - Were you going to call me?

I have tried it in class but I haven't heard it very much in conversation.

Answer 3

In any reference to times past (e.g., "before", "formerly", "at that time", etc.), an expression using the past progressive - as in "Before I discovered SD, I was learning Spanish very slowly."

Answer 4

Cantaba en los bares = I used to sing in bars.