Imperfect AR and ER Endings: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the intricacies of English grammar can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to verb conjugations. One such area that often confuses learners is the use of imperfect AR and ER endings. In this article, we will delve into the details of these endings, their usage, and how they can be effectively applied in your writing and speaking.

What are Imperfect AR and ER Endings?

Imperfect AR and ER endings are verb conjugations used in English to form the past tense of regular verbs. While they may seem similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Imperfect AR Endings

The imperfect AR endings are formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb. For example, the base form of the verb “walk” is “walk,” and its past tense form with an imperfect AR ending is “walked.” This ending is used to describe actions that were completed in the past or actions that were ongoing at a specific point in time.

Imperfect ER Endings

The imperfect ER endings are formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb, just like the imperfect AR endings. However, the key difference lies in the pronunciation. When using the imperfect ER endings, the “ed” is pronounced as /d/ in words ending in a consonant and as /t/ in words ending in a vowel. For instance, the base form of the verb “run” is “run,” and its past tense form with an imperfect ER ending is “ran” (pronounced /r忙n/). The past tense form with an imperfect ER ending is “runned” (pronounced /r蕦nd/), but this form is considered incorrect and should be avoided.

Usage of Imperfect AR and ER Endings

Now that we understand the differences between imperfect AR and ER endings, let’s explore their usage in various contexts.

Describing Past Actions

Imperfect AR and ER endings are commonly used to describe past actions. For example:

In this table, you can see that both the imperfect AR and ER endings are used to describe the past actions of playing, reading, and writing.

Describing Actions in the Past

Imperfect AR and ER endings can also be used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past. For example:

“I was reading a book when the phone rang.”

In this sentence, the imperfect AR ending “was reading” describes an action that was ongoing at a specific point in time.

Describing Actions That Were Completed in the Past

Additionally, imperfect AR and ER endings can be used to describe actions that were completed in the past. For example:

“I had finished my homework before dinner.”

In this sentence, the imperfect AR ending “had finished” describes an action that was completed before another past action (dinner).

Common Mistakes

While using imperfect AR and ER endings, it’s important to be aware of common mistakes that learners often make. Here are a few:

• Confusing the imperfect AR and ER endings: As mentioned earlier, the key difference lies in the pronunciation. Make sure to use the correct ending based on the word’s ending.
• Using the incorrect form: Avoid using the incorrect form, such as “runned” instead of “ran.” Always use the correct past tense form of the verb.
• Misusing the perfect tenses: Be cautious not to mix perfect and imperfect tenses in a sentence. For example, “I had walked to the store and I was buying groceries” is incorrect. The correct sentence would be “I had walked to the store, and I was buying groceries.”