Mientras and the imperfect: simultaneous past actions

The idea

Use imperfect forms in both clauses to describe simultaneous background actions: cocinaba mientras Ana ponía la mesa.

Examples

• Yo cocinaba mientras Ana ponía la mesa.I was cooking while Ana was setting the table.
• Mientras llovía, leíamos en casa.While it was raining, we were reading at home.
• El conductor escuchaba la radio mientras esperaba.The driver was listening to the radio while waiting.
• Nosotras estudiábamos mientras ellos trabajaban.We were studying while they were working.
• ¿Qué hacías mientras sonaba la música?What were you doing while the music was playing?
• Mi hermano lavaba los platos mientras yo secaba los vasos.My brother was washing the dishes while I was drying the glasses.

Watch out

Mientras does not require the imperfect in every sentence; tense depends on the speaker’s intended view of the events.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the imperfect of cocinar for yo. Yo ___ mientras Ana ponía la mesa. (cocinaba / cociné)

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   cocinaba

   Cocinaba is the first-person imperfect of cocinar.

2. Choose the imperfect of poner for Ana. Ana ___ la mesa mientras yo cocinaba. (ponía / puso)

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   ponía

   Ponía is the imperfect form of poner for Ana.

3. Choose the imperfect of leer for nosotros. Mientras llovía, nosotros ___ en casa. (leíamos / leímos)

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   leíamos

   Leíamos is the first-person plural imperfect of leer.

Use it today

Describe two things people were doing at the same time, using mientras and imperfect forms in both clauses.