Background and completed events
The imperfect describes a past background or repeated activity; the compound past tells a completed event. Compare (was sleeping) and (slept).
Useful background forms are . Their first-person forms are . Use to connect an event to its setting: .
The course does not require a full imperfect conjugation for every verb. Learn these common background forms and keep simple event stories in the compound past.
Maria dormea când a sunat telefonul.Maria was sleeping when the phone rang.
Eu eram acasă.I was at home.
El avea zece ani.He was ten years old.
Maria a închis ochii.Maria closed her eyes.
Eu dormeam când a venit Ana.I was sleeping when Ana came.
Andrei cânta atunci.Andrei was playing then.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
Maria was sleeping when the phone rang.
.
I was at home.
.
He was ten years old.
.
Maria closed her eyes.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Maria când a sunat telefonul.
Maria was sleeping when the phone rang.
Eu acasă.
I was at home.
El zece ani.
He was ten years old.
Maria închis ochii.
Maria closed her eyes.
Eu când a venit Ana.
I was sleeping when Ana came.
Andrei atunci.
Andrei was playing then.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
El zece ani.
He was ten years old.
Maria închis ochii.
Maria closed her eyes.
Eu când a venit Ana.
I was sleeping when Ana came.
Andrei atunci.
Andrei was playing then.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
Maria was sleeping when the phone rang.
I was at home.
He was ten years old.
Maria closed her eyes.
I was sleeping when Ana came.
Andrei was playing then.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
Maria was sleeping when the phone rang.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
Maria was sleeping when the phone rang.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
I was at home.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
I was at home.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
He was ten years old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
He was ten years old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
Maria closed her eyes.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
Maria closed her eyes.
You say:
Use the meaning and Romanian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
