How to use the Imperfetto in Italian

Uses of the Imperfetto:

1. Ongoing Actions in the Past:

   • Used to describe actions that were happening at a certain time in the past.
   • Example: "Mentre studiavo, lui leggeva." (While I was studying, he was reading.)

2. Habitual or Repeated Actions in the Past:

   • Used for actions that used to happen regularly or habitually in the past.
   • Example: "Da bambino, giocavo sempre a calcio." (As a child, I always played soccer.)

3. Descriptions in the Past:

   • Used to describe people, things, weather, and places in the past.
   • Example: "Era una giornata calda." (It was a hot day.)

4. Background Information:

   • Used to provide background information or context for a story or event.
   • Example: "La città era tranquilla e tutti dormivano." (The city was quiet, and everyone was sleeping.)

Here is the conjugation of regular verbs in the imperfetto verbs ending in -are (parlare - to talk):