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Contar Imperfect Practice

Contar (to count, to tell) in the imperfect: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

•14 exercises•Stem-changing o→ue•A1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

The imperfect of contar is regular and keeps the o: contaba, contabas, contaba, contábamos, contabais, contaban.

It is the tense of bedtime stories (mi abuela nos contaba cuentos), childhood habits (contábamos hasta cien antes de buscar) and past situations: en aquella época, la ciudad solo contaba con un hospital.

IIConjugation
contarImperfect
yo
contaba
tú
contabas
él / ella / usted
contaba
nosotros
contábamos
vosotros
contabais
ellos / ustedes
contaban
o→ue in the present (cuento) and subjunctive; regular preterite, imperfect and future.

Download the contar conjugation worksheet (PDF) — free, with answer key

48 exercises on contar across 8 tenses on one printable worksheet: each tense opens with its conjugation table, and the answer key with short explanations is at the end. Fits A4 and US Letter. Free for classroom use — no sign-up.

Download PDF
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Childhood
Fill in the blank

De pequeña, yo _____ los coches rojos desde la ventanilla. (contar)

As a girl, I used to count the red cars from the car window.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Childhood
Fill in the blank

Cuando eras niño, ¿_____ tú los días que faltaban para tu cumpleaños? (contar)

When you were a boy, did you count the days until your birthday?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Past habit
Fill in the blank

Cuando éramos pequeños, mi abuela siempre nos _____ cuentos antes de dormir. (contar)

When we were little, my grandmother always told us stories at bedtime.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Mientras + imperfect
Fill in the blank

Mientras nosotros _____ el dinero, se fue la luz. (contar)

While we were counting the money, the power went off.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Past habit
Fill in the blank

Antes, los pastores _____ las ovejas cada noche al volver al corral. (contar)

In the old days, shepherds counted the sheep every night when they got back to the pen.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Past routine
Fill in the blank

Cuando trabajaba en el banco, yo _____ billetes durante horas. (contar)

When I worked at the bank, I counted banknotes for hours.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Interrupted action
Fill in the blank

¿Qué me _____ tú cuando se cortó la llamada? (contar)

What were you telling me when the call cut off?

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Past habit
Fill in the blank

En el instituto, el profesor de historia _____ anécdotas que nos hacían reír. (contar)

At secondary school, the history teacher used to tell anecdotes that made us laugh.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Childhood
Fill in the blank

De niños, mi hermano y yo _____ hasta cien antes de buscar a los demás. (contar)

As kids, my brother and I used to count to a hundred before looking for the others.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Past states
Fill in the blank

Mis padres _____ con muy poco dinero cuando se casaron. (contar)

My parents had very little money when they got married.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Vosotros form
Fill in the blank

De pequeños, ¿vosotros _____ chistes en los viajes largos en coche? (contar)

When you were little, did you (all) tell jokes on long car journeys?

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Two simultaneous actions
Fill in the blank

Mientras yo te _____ lo que pasó, tú mirabas el móvil. (contar)

While I was telling you what happened, you were looking at your phone.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Past description
Fill in the blank

En aquella época, la ciudad solo _____ con un hospital. (contar)

At that time, the city had only one hospital.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Background action
Fill in the blank

Cuando entré, mis compañeros _____ un chiste y se reían a carcajadas. (contar)

When I came in, my colleagues were telling a joke and roaring with laughter.

Every answer is explained

Not just a green check. A short paragraph telling you why.

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