Explain how the imperfect is used to talk about the past.

In Spanish, the imperfect tense (el imperfecto) is used to describe past habitual actions or to talk about what someone was doing at the moment he or she was interrupted by something else. In general, the imperfect is used to talk about past actions, conditions, or events that occurred regularly or frequently or that were in progress in a moment in the past. It is also used to tell time, talk about dates, give a person's age, and describe features, conditions, and feelings in the past.

The following are examples of this tense:

1. Yo jugaba la fútbol cuando yo era pequeño

I played football when I was little

2. Yo miraba la televisión todos los días mientras viví en Chile

I watched television every day while I lived in Chile

in the dark you call me from the darkness you called me i recognized your voice you recognized my neighbor for here i said you where you are dad i do not see you here i am here and i am afraid you said not my son wait i have you where are you this dark i do not see anything i have fear do not be afraid, son, right now, i'm coming soon, papa, i'm waiting for you, a father cries out to his son