<h2><u>Answers:</u></h2>
In Spanish (Castilian) the imperfect tense (indicative mode) is used to:
1. talk about past habitual actions (adding <em>used to</em> in its different forms)
2. describe what someone was doing when it was interrupted by someone (or something) else. In fact, is more a <u>combination of the past tense and a continuous or repeating aspect</u>. Frequently, this includes a sense of incompletion in the verb, but not always. (Is the equivalent to the <em>Past Progresive Tense</em> in english)
In other words:
<em>It is specially used to describe what used to happen or what was happening.
</em>
Knowing this, let’s begin with the <u>answers related to the imperfect tense</u>:
<h2>Question 13 – Right answer: estudiaban </h2>
In this sentence we are talking about students, which are the t<u>hird person in plural </u>they.
Now, the imperfect tense of the spanish verb estudiar (to study) with the third person in plural ellos (they) is <u>estudiaban</u>.
Therefore the complete sentence is:
<h2>Los alumnos <u>estudiaban</u> para el examen
</h2>
The students <u>were studying</u> for the exam
<h2>
Question 14 – Right answer: volaban
</h2>
In this sentence we are talking about birds (pájaros or aves) which is a <u>plural noun</u>.
Now, the imperfect tense of the spanish verb volar (to fly) with the <u>third person in plural</u> ellos (they) is <u>volaban</u>.
Therefore the complete sentence is:
<h2>Los pájaros <u>volaban</u> sobre los árboles.
</h2>
The birds <u>were flying</u> over the trees
<h2>
Question 17 – Right answer: trabajaba
</h2><h2>
</h2>
This sentence is a good example of the usage of the imperfect tense to talk about past habitual actions with the addition of <em>used to</em>.
Here we are talking about the <u>first person in singular</u> yo (I), and the imperfect tense of the spanish verb trabajar (to work) with this subject is <u>trabajaba</u>.
Therefore the complete sentence is:
<h2>Yo <u>trabajaba</u> los fines de semana.
</h2>
I <u>used to work</u> on weekends
<h2>
Question 19 – Right answer: era
</h2><h2>
</h2>
In this sentence we are talking about the <u>first person in singular</u> yo (I). The imperfect tense of the spanish verb ser (to be) with this subject is <u>era</u> (was).
Therefore the complete sentence is:
<h2>Yo <u>era</u> muy inteligente.
</h2>
I <u>was</u> very intelligent
<h2>
Question 21 – Right answer: esperaba
</h2>
In this sentence Juanita is the <u>third person in singular</u> ella (she), this means the imperfect tense of the spanish verb esperar (to wait) with this subject is <u>esperaba</u>.
Therefore the complete sentence is:
<h2>
Juanita <u>esperaba</u> el autobús.
</h2>
Juanita <u>was waiting</u> for the bus
<h2>Question 22 – Right answer: ibas
</h2>
This is a sentence written with the <u>second person in singular</u> tú (you) and the imperfect tense of the spanish verb ir (to go) with this subject is <u>ibas</u>.
Therefore the complete sentence is:
<h2>Tú <u>ibas</u> al cine
</h2>
You <u>were going</u> to the movie theater (cinema)
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Now, if we are <em>comparing</em> the characteristics (superiority or inferiority) of two persons, animals, things or two groups; generally in Spanish we use the words más and menos, as follows:
<h2>Subject + verb + más/menos + que…
</h2>
or
<h2>Subject + verb + más/menos + adjective / adverb / noun + que…
</h2>
The following sentences are a good example of these comparisons:
<h2>Question 15 – Right answer: menos
</h2>
In this sentence we are comparing the stature of two animals, the hippopotamus and the giraffe, where the first one results to be less tall than the second . This means in this case we have to use the following rule:
Subject + verb (to be) + menos + alto (adjective: tall) + que…
<h2>El hipopótamo es <u>menos</u> alto que la jirafa.
</h2>
The hippopotamus is <u>less tall</u> than the giraffe
<h2>
Question 16 – Right answer: más
</h2>
In this sentence we are comparing the bravery of two animals, the lion and the donkey, where the first one results to be braver than the second. This means in this case we have to use the following rule:
Subject + verb (to be) + más + valiente (adjective: brave) + que…
<h2>
El león es <u>más</u> valiente que el burro.
</h2>
The lion is <u>braver</u> than the donkey.
<h2>
Question 18 – Right answer: más
</h2>
In this sentence we are comparing the size of two animals, the hen and the chicken, where the first one results to be bigger than the second. This means in this case we have to use the following rule:
Subject + verb (to be) + más + grande (adjective: big) + que…
<h2>
La gallina es <u>más</u> grande que el pollito.
</h2>
The hen is <u>bigger</u> than the chick.
<h2>
Question 20 – Right answer: menos
</h2><h2>
</h2>
In this sentence we are comparing the size of two animals, the goat and the cow, where the first one results to be smaller than the second. This means in this case we have to use the following rule:
Subject + verb (to be) + menos + grande (adjective: big) + que…
<h2>
El chivo es <u>menos</u> grande que la vaca.
</h2>
The goat is <u>less big</u> than the cow (or The goat is <u>smaller</u> than the cow)
