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Esperar Imperfect Practice

Esperar (to wait, to hope, to expect) in the imperfect: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

•14 exercises•Regular -ar•A1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

The imperfect of esperar is regular: esperaba, esperabas, esperaba, esperábamos, esperabais, esperaban. Only esperábamos has a written accent.

It is the natural tense for expectations (nadie esperaba una nevada así), for waits that were going on when something happened (mientras esperábamos el tren, empezó a nevar) and for old habits: mi madre me esperaba con la cena lista.

IIConjugation
esperarImperfect
yo
esperaba
tú
esperabas
él / ella / usted
esperaba
nosotros
esperábamos
vosotros
esperabais
ellos / ustedes
esperaban
Fully regular in every tense, conjugated like hablar.

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

48 exercises on esperar 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 niño, yo _____ la Navidad con muchísima ilusión. (esperar)

As a child, I looked forward to Christmas with huge excitement.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Background action
Fill in the blank

¿A quién _____ tú en la estación cuando te vi? (esperar)

Who were you waiting for at the station when I saw you?

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

Mi madre siempre me _____ con la cena lista cuando volvía del colegio. (esperar)

My mother always had dinner ready for me when I got back from school.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Past states
Fill in the blank

Nosotros no _____ tanta gente en la fiesta; nos quedamos sin comida. (esperar)

We didn't expect so many people at the party; we ran out of food.

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

Antes, los viajeros _____ días enteros a que saliera el barco. (esperar)

In the past, travellers used to wait whole days for the ship to leave.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Background state
Fill in the blank

Cuando sonó el teléfono, yo _____ una llamada de trabajo. (esperar)

When the phone rang, I was expecting a work call.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Childhood
Fill in the blank

De pequeño, ¿_____ tú despierto a los Reyes Magos? (esperar)

When you were little, did you stay awake waiting for the Three Kings?

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

El profesor nunca _____ a los alumnos que llegaban tarde. (esperar)

The teacher never waited for the students who arrived late.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Mientras + imperfect
Fill in the blank

Mientras nosotros _____ el tren, empezó a nevar. (esperar)

While we were waiting for the train, it started to snow.

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

En los años sesenta, mis abuelos _____ cartas de sus hijos, que trabajaban en Alemania. (esperar)

In the sixties, my grandparents waited for letters from their children, who were working in Germany.

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

¿Qué _____ vosotros de la ciudad antes de visitarla? (esperar)

What did you (all) expect of the city before you visited it?

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Mientras + imperfect
Fill in the blank

Mientras yo _____ en la consulta, leí una revista entera. (esperar)

While I was waiting at the doctor's, I read a whole magazine.

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

Nadie _____ una nevada así en pleno abril. (esperar)

Nobody expected snow like that in the middle of April.

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

Cuando llegué, mis amigos ya me _____ en el bar. (esperar)

When I arrived, my friends were already waiting for me in the bar.

Every answer is explained

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

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