Learn the Greek imperfect, used for ongoing or repeated actions in the past, like "I was talking" or "I used to go". Conjugate common verbs, then read it in everyday sentences.
μιλούσα
I was speaking; I used to speak
μιλούσες
you were speaking; you used to speak (sing.)
μιλούσε
he / she was speaking; used to speak
μιλούσαμε
we were speaking; we used to speak
μιλούσατε
you were speaking; you used to speak (pl. or formal)
μιλούσαν
they were speaking; they used to speak
έγραφα
I was writing; I used to write
έγραφες
you were writing; you used to write (sing.)
έγραφε
he / she was writing; used to write
γράφαμε
we were writing; we used to write
γράφατε
you were writing; you used to write (pl. or formal)
έγραφαν
they were writing; they used to write
πήγαινα
I was going; I used to go
πήγαινες
you were going; you used to go (sing.)
πήγαινε
he / she was going; used to go
πήγαιναν
they were going; they used to go
έτρωγα
I was eating; I used to eat
έτρωγες
you were eating; you used to eat (sing.)
Όταν ήμουν παιδί, έπαιζα κάθε μέρα στο πάρκο.
When I was a child, I used to play in the park every day.
Κάθε πρωί πήγαινα στο σχολείο με τα πόδια.
Every morning I used to walk to school.
Τότε δεν είχαμε τηλέφωνο, αλλά ήμασταν πολύ ευτυχείς.
Back then we didn't have a phone, but we were very happy.
Ενώ δούλευα στο γραφείο, έλαβα ένα σημαντικό ηλεκτρονικό μήνυμα.
While I was working at the office, I received an important email.
Κάθε μέρα έπινα δύο φλιτζάνια καφέ.
Every day I used to drink two cups of coffee.
Εκείνη τη δεκαετία, πολλά πράγματα άλλαζαν γρήγορα.
In that decade, many things were changing fast.
Όσο περίμενα, διάβαζα ένα ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο.
While I was waiting, I was reading an interesting book.
Ο Γιάννης έγραφε γράμματα κάθε Κυριακή.
Yannis used to write letters every Sunday.
Τα παιδιά έτρωγαν φρούτα ενώ έβλεπαν τηλεόραση.
The children were eating fruit while they watched TV.
Στο σχολείο μας, ο δάσκαλος ήταν πολύ αυστηρός.
At our school, the teacher was very strict.
Εκείνα τα χρόνια, κανείς δεν ήξερε για υπολογιστές.
In those years, nobody knew about computers.
Τον χειμώνα χιόνιζε πολύ.
In winter it used to snow a lot.
Έλεγαν ότι ήταν ο καλύτερος ηθοποιός της εποχής.
They used to say he was the best actor of his time.
Όταν χτυπούσε η καμπάνα, όλοι έτρεχαν στην αίθουσα.
Whenever the bell rang, everyone ran to the hall.
Μας διέκοπτε συνέχεια ενώ κάναμε την παρουσίαση.
He kept interrupting us while we were giving the presentation.
Παλιά έπαιρναν άδεια όποτε ήθελαν.
In the past they used to take leave whenever they wanted.
Τα χρόνια που ταξίδευα στην Ελλάδα, έμαθα πολλά.
In the years I was travelling around Greece, I learned a lot.
Πάντα φοβόταν όταν ήταν μόνη στο σπίτι.
She was always scared when she was home alone.
Κατά τη διάρκεια της συνάντησης, κανείς δεν μιλούσε.
During the meeting, nobody was speaking.
Όλη τη νύχτα άκουγαν παράξενους ήχους.
All night long, they kept hearing strange sounds.