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Ser Imperfect Practice

Ser (to be (essence)) 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

Ser is one of only three verbs with an irregular imperfect: era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran. These are the go-to forms for describing how people and things used to be — childhood, old jobs, past personalities, background scenes.

The main trap is the era vs fue contrast: era paints an open-ended background state ('cuando era niña'), while fue closes an event or period. Also note the accent only appears in éramos.

IIConjugation
serImperfect
yo
era
eras
él / ella / usted
era
nosotros
éramos
vosotros
erais
ellos / ustedes
eran
Fully irregular in the present, preterite, and imperfect — the forms have to be memorized.
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

Cuando yo _____ niña, quería ser astronauta. (ser)

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an astronaut.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Past profession
Fill in the blank

Mi abuela _____ maestra en un pueblo pequeño de Chiapas. (ser)

My grandmother was a teacher in a small town in Chiapas.

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

Antes las casas del barrio _____ todas de adobe. (ser)

The houses in the neighborhood used to all be made of adobe.

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

De pequeño tú _____ muy tímido con los desconocidos. (ser)

As a little boy you were very shy with strangers.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Accent in éramos
Fill in the blank

En esa época nosotros _____ estudiantes y no teníamos dinero. (ser)

Back then we were students and had no money.

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

Salimos temprano porque todavía _____ de día. (ser)

We left early because it was still daylight.

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

Yo _____ el más alto de mi clase en la primaria. (ser)

I was the tallest in my class in elementary school.

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

Mis vecinos _____ de Cuba y siempre cocinaban con música. (ser)

My neighbors were from Cuba and always cooked with music playing.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Past description
Fill in the blank

Mamá dice que tú _____ un bebé muy tranquilo. (ser)

Mom says you were a very calm baby.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Accent in éramos
Fill in the blank

Cuando vivíamos en Quito, nosotros _____ socios de un club de ajedrez. (ser)

When we lived in Quito, we were members of a chess club.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

El profesor de historia _____ exigente, pero muy justo. (ser)

The history teacher was demanding, but very fair.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Habitual past
Fill in the blank

De adolescente, yo _____ fanática de las telenovelas mexicanas. (ser)

As a teenager, I was a huge fan of Mexican telenovelas.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Los inviernos en mi pueblo _____ largos y silenciosos. (ser)

The winters in my town were long and silent.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Past identity
Fill in the blank

En la universidad tú _____ el alma de todas las fiestas. (ser)

In college you were the life of every party.

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