Which is the correct imperfect tense form for 'I used to live'?

Which is the correct imperfect tense form for 'I used to live'?

• A. Yo vivía
• B. Tú vivías
• C. Él vivía
• D. Yo viví

Answer: (A)

Imperfect is used for habitual or ongoing actions in the past. For vivir, the yo form in imperfect is vivía, giving Yo vivía. This expresses a past habit: I used to live. The other forms don’t fit because they point to different subjects or to a completed past action: tú vivías would be “you used to live,” él vivía is “he used to live,” and yo viví is the preterite, a finished past action.

Imperfect is used for habitual or ongoing actions in the past. For vivir, the yo form in imperfect is vivía, giving Yo vivía. This expresses a past habit: I used to live. The other forms don’t fit because they point to different subjects or to a completed past action: tú vivías would be “you used to live,” él vivía is “he used to live,” and yo viví is the preterite, a finished past action.