In the reading underline or highlight all verbs in the imperfect tense. Write the present tense form of each imperfect verb in the space above it.

Using the verbs from #2 write the new version below (continue on paper)

Answe

Present tense

Ego Lucie nuntium do – I give a message to Lucy

We also looked at verbs in the past tense

For example:

Past tense (perfect)

Ego Lucie nuntium dedi – I gave a message to Lucy

This kind of past tense is called a perfect tense. It is used to describe an action in the past which is completed.

To describe a past action or state which is incomplete, we use an imperfect tense. This tense indicates an action which has gone on over a period time or has happened frequently. It is translated into English by ‘was/were’ + ‘-ing’ or ‘used to’.

For example:

Past tense (imperfect)

Ego Lucie nuntium dabam – I was giving a message to Lucy

Just as with the present and perfect tenses, we need to know the conjugation a verb belongs to in order to make an imperfect tense.

Remember

Latin verbs are divided into four groups, or conjugations.

In each conjugation, the verbs share the same endings:

An example of a first conjugation verb is: confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatum (1) – to confirm.

An example of a second conjugation verb is: habeo, habere, habui, habitum (2) – to have

An example of a third conjugation verb is: duco, ducere, duxi, ductum (3) – to lead

An example of a fourth conjugation verb is: audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4) – to hear

The endings for the imperfect tense are similar to those of the present tense.

Explanation:

The imperfect tense is one of the verb tenses used to talk about the past, especially in descriptions, and to say what was happening or used to happen, for example, It was sunny at the weekend; We were living in Spain at the time; I used to walk to school. The imperfect tense is used: to describe repeated or continuous actions in the past. to describe what something or someone was like in the past.