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Decir Imperfect Practice

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

14 exercisesIrregularA1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

Good news: decir is completely regular in the imperfect. Take the stem dec- and add the -er/-ir endings: decía, decías, decía, decíamos, decíais, decían — every form carries an accent on the í.

The real trap is choosing the wrong past tense: use decía for what someone used to say or was saying repeatedly, and dijo for a single completed statement. Many of these sentences hinge on exactly that contrast.

IIConjugation
decirImperfect
yo
decía
decías
él / ella / usted
decía
nosotros
decíamos
vosotros
decíais
ellos / ustedes
decían
e→i stem change plus irregular yo (digo), preterite dij- (dijeron, not dijieron), future dir-.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

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

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Regular imperfect
Fill in the blank

De niño, yo siempre _____ que quería ser astronauta. (decir)

As a child, I always said I wanted to be an astronaut.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

Antes tú _____ que el café no te gustaba. (decir)

Before, you used to say that you didn't like coffee.

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Sayings
Fill in the blank

Mi abuelo _____ que la paciencia lo cura todo. (decir)

My grandfather used to say that patience cures everything.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Cuando éramos chicos, _____ mentiras para no ir a la escuela. (decir)

When we were kids, we told lies to avoid going to school.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

En mi pueblo _____ que esa casa estaba embrujada. (decir)

In my town they used to say that house was haunted.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Ongoing past action
Fill in the blank

Mientras cocinaba, yo le _____ a mi hija cómo cortar la cebolla. (decir)

While I was cooking, I was telling my daughter how to cut the onion.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Recuerdas cuando _____ que nunca usarías redes sociales? (decir)

Do you remember when you used to say you'd never use social media?

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Repeated speech
Fill in the blank

La maestra nos _____ un refrán distinto cada mañana. (decir)

The teacher used to tell us a different saying every morning.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Todos los veranos, mis tíos _____ que era su última visita. (decir)

Every summer, my uncles said it was their last visit.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

En esa época nosotros no _____ groserías delante de los adultos. (decir)

Back then we didn't say bad words in front of adults.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Regular imperfect
Fill in the blank

Cada vez que sonaba el teléfono, yo _____ «¿aló?» muy bajito. (decir)

Every time the phone rang, I would say 'hello?' very quietly.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

De adolescente, tú les _____ tus secretos a tus primas. (decir)

As a teenager, you used to tell your secrets to your cousins.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Repeated speech
Fill in the blank

Mamá siempre _____ que el desayuno era la comida más importante. (decir)

Mom always said breakfast was the most important meal.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Los vecinos _____ que antes había un mercado en esta plaza. (decir)

The neighbors used to say there was a market in this square before.

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