Spanish Verb Conjugation: Imperfect Tense: AR Verbs

	ignore	English	Deutsch
cantar		to sing, chant	singen
continuar	(u -> ú)	to continue	weitermachen
encontrar	(o -> ue)	to meet, encounter	treffen
esquiar	(i - í)	to ski	skifahren, skilaufen
hablar		to speak	sprechen
jugar	(u -> ue)	to play (sports, games)	spielen, treiben
pensar	(e -> ie)	to think	denken
preguntar		to ask (a question)	fragen
trabajar		to work, labor	arbeiten

To make the imperfect forms, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add the endings given above.

To see the imperfect tense conjugated forms of these verbs, click on a pronoun below:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Yo form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aba to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what I would often do:	At some point in the past, I used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaba	I would sing, chant	I used to sing, chant	I was singing, chanting	ich sang
continuar	continuaba	I would continue	I used to continue	I was continuing	ich machte weiter
encontrar	encontraba	I would meet, encounter	I used to meet, encounter	I was meeting, encountering	ich traf
esquiar	esquiaba	I would ski	I used to ski	I was skiing	ich fuhr/lief ski
hablar	hablaba	I would speak	I used to speak	I was speaking	ich sprach
jugar	jugaba	I would play	I used to play	I was playing	ich spielte
pensar	pensaba	I would think	I used to think	I was thinking	ich dachte
preguntar	preguntaba	I would ask (questions)	I used to ask (questions)	I was asking (questions)	ich fragte
trabajar	trabajaba	I would work, labor	I used to work, labor	I was working, laboring	ich arbeitete

The pronoun YO needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for él, ella, & Usted.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with YO being the subject, you can leave it out.

The YO becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Tú form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -abas to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what you would often do:	At some point in the past, you used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch

cantar	cantabas	you would sing, chant	you used to sing, chant	you were singing, chanting	du sangst
continuar	continuabas	you would continue	you used to continue	you were continuing	du machtest weiter
encontrar	encontrabas	you would meet, encounter	you used to meet, encounter	you were meeting, encountering	du trafst
esquiar	esquiabas	you would ski	you used to ski	you were skiing	du fuhrst/liefst ski
hablar	hablabas	you would speak	you used to speak	you were speaking	du sprachst
jugar	jugabas	you would play	you used to play	you were playing	du spieltest
pensar	pensabas	you would think	you used to think	you were thinking	du dachtest
preguntar	preguntabas	you would ask (questions)	you used to ask (questions)	you were asking (questions)	du fragtest
trabajar	trabajabas	you would work, labor	you used to work, labor	you were working, laboring	du arbeitetest

The pronoun TÚ never needs to be used, since this form can only imply a familiar you.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Él form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aba to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what he would often do:	At some point in the past, he used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaba	he would sing, chant	he used to sing, chant	he was singing, chanting	er sang
continuar	continuaba	he would continue	he used to continue	he was continuing	er machte weiter
encontrar	encontraba	he would meet, encounter	he used to meet, encounter	he was meeting, encountering	er traf
esquiar	esquiaba	he would ski	he used to ski	he was skiing	er fuhr/lief ski
hablar	hablaba	he would speak	he used to speak	he was speaking	er sprach
jugar	jugaba	he would play	he used to play	he was playing	er spielte
pensar	pensaba	he would think	he used to think	he was thinking	er dachte
preguntar	preguntaba	he would ask (questions)	he used to ask (questions)	he was asking (questions)	er fragte
trabajar	trabajaba	he would work, labor	he used to work, labor	he was working, laboring	er arbeitete

The pronoun ÉL needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for yo, ella, & Usted.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with ÉL being the subject, you can leave it out.

The ÉL becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ella form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aba to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what she would often do:	At some point in the past, she used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaba	she would sing, chant	she used to sing, chant	she was singing, chanting	sie sang
continuar	continuaba	she would continue	she used to continue	she was continuing	sie machte weiter
encontrar	encontraba	she would meet, encounter	she used to meet, encounter	she was meeting, encountering	sie traf
esquiar	esquiaba	she would ski	she used to ski	she was skiing	sie fuhr/lief ski
hablar	hablaba	she would speak	she used to speak	she was speaking	sie sprach
jugar	jugaba	she would play	she used to play	she was playing	sie spielte
pensar	pensaba	she would think	she used to think	she was thinking	sie dachte
preguntar	preguntaba	she would ask (questions)	she used to ask (questions)	she was asking (questions)	sie fragte
trabajar	trabajaba	she would work, labor	she used to work, labor	she was working, laboring	sie arbeitete

The pronoun ELLA needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for yo, él, & Usted.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with ELLA being the subject, you can leave it out.

The ELLA becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Usted form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aba to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what you would often do:	At some point in the past, you used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaba	you would sing, chant	you used to sing, chant	you were singing, chanting	Sie sangen
continuar	continuaba	you would continue	you used to continue	you were continuing	Sie machten weiter
encontrar	encontraba	you would meet, encounter	you used to meet, encounter	you were meeting, encountering	Sie trafen
esquiar	esquiaba	you would ski	you used to ski	you were skiing	Sie fuhren/liefen ski
hablar	hablaba	you would speak	you used to speak	you were speaking	Sie sprachen
jugar	jugaba	you would play	you used to play	you were playing	Sie spielten
pensar	pensaba	you would think	you used to think	you were thinking	Sie dachten
preguntar	preguntaba	you would ask (questions)	you used to ask (questions)	you were asking (questions)	Sie fragten
trabajar	trabajaba	you would work, labor	you used to work, labor	you were working, laboring	Sie arbeiteten

The pronoun USTED needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for yo, él, & ella.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with USTED being the subject, you can leave it out.

The USTED becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Nosotros & Nosotras form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -ábamos to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what we would often do:	At some point in the past, we used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantábamos	we would sing, chant	we used to sing, chant	we were singing, chanting	wir sangen
continuar	continuábamos	we would continue	we used to continue	we were continuing	wir machten weiter
encontrar	encontrábamos	we would meet, encounter	we used to meet, encounter	we were meeting, encountering	wir trafen
esquiar	esquiábamos	we would ski	we used to ski	we were skiing	wir fuhren/liefen ski
hablar	hablábamos	we would speak	we used to speak	we were speaking	wir sprachen
jugar	jugábamos	we would play	we used to play	we were playing	wir spielten
pensar	pensábamos	we would think	we used to think	we were thinking	wir dachten
preguntar	preguntábamos	we would ask (questions)	we used to ask (questions)	we were asking (questions)	wir fragten
trabajar	trabajábamos	we would work, labor	we used to work, labor	we were working, laboring	wir arbeiteten

As far as dealing with the pronoun, clarification needs to be made concerning the gender of the WE.

Once it is clear that the conversation concerns NOSOTROS or NOSOTRAS, the pronoun can then be left out.

The NOSOTROS or NOSOTRAS becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Vosotros & Vosotras form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -ábais to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what y'all would often do:	At some point in the past, y'all used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantábais	y'all would sing, chant	y'all used to sing, chant	y'all were singing, chanting	ihr sangt
continuar	continuábais	y'all would continue	y'all used to continue	y'all were continuing	ihr machtet weiter
encontrar	encontrábais	y'all would meet, encounter	y'all used to meet, encounter	y'all were meeting, encountering	ihr traft
esquiar	esquiábais	y'all would ski	y'all used to ski	y'all were skiing	ihr fuhren/liefen ski
hablar	hablábais	y'all would speak	y'all used to speak	y'all were speaking	ihr spracht
jugar	jugábais	y'all would play	y'all used to play	y'all were playing	ihr spieltet
pensar	pensábais	y'all would think	y'all used to think	y'all were thinking	ihr dachtet
preguntar	preguntábais	y'all would ask (questions)	y'all used to ask (questions)	y'all were asking (questions)	ihr fragtet
trabajar	trabajábais	y'all would work, labor	y'all used to work, labor	y'all were working, laboring	ihr arbeitetet

As far as dealing with the pronoun, clarification needs to be made concerning the gender of the Y'ALL.

Once it is clear that the conversation concerns VOSOTROS or VOSOTRAS, the pronoun can then be left out.

The VOSOTROS or VOSOTRAS becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ellos form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aban to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what they would often do:	At some point in the past, they used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaban	they would sing, chant	they used to sing, chant	they were singing, chanting	sie sangen
continuar	continuaban	they would continue	they used to continue	they were continuing	sie machten weiter
encontrar	encontraban	they would meet, encounter	they used to meet, encounter	they were meeting, encountering	sie trafen
esquiar	esquiaban	they would ski	they used to ski	they were skiing	sie fuhren/liefen ski
hablar	hablaban	they would speak	they used to speak	they were speaking	sie sprachen
jugar	jugaban	they would play	they used to play	they were playing	sie spielten
pensar	pensaban	they would think	they used to think	they were thinking	sie dachten
preguntar	preguntaban	they would ask (questions)	they used to ask (questions)	they were asking (questions)	sie fragten
trabajar	trabajaban	they would work, labor	they used to work, labor	they were working, laboring	sie arbeiteten

The pronoun ELLOS needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for ellas, & Ustedes.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with ELLOS being the subject, you can leave it out.

The ELLOS becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ellas form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aban to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what they would often do:	At some point in the past, they used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaban	they would sing, chant	they used to sing, chant	they were singing, chanting	sie sangen
continuar	continuaban	they would continue	they used to continue	they were continuing	sie machten weiter
encontrar	encontraban	they would meet, encounter	they used to meet, encounter	they were meeting, encountering	sie trafen
esquiar	esquiaban	they would ski	they used to ski	they were skiing	sie fuhren/liefen ski
hablar	hablaban	they would speak	they used to speak	they were speaking	sie sprachen
jugar	jugaban	they would play	they used to play	they were playing	sie spielten
pensar	pensaban	they would think	they used to think	they were thinking	sie dachten
preguntar	preguntaban	they would ask (questions)	they used to ask (questions)	they were asking (questions)	sie fragten
trabajar	trabajaban	they would work, labor	they used to work, labor	they were working, laboring	sie arbeiteten

The pronoun ELLAS needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for ellos, & Ustedes.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with ELLAS being the subject, you can leave it out.

The ELLAS becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense

Imperfect tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ustedes form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -aban to the stem.

		At some point in the past, this is what they would often do:	At some point in the past, they used to do this but may not be able to any more:	At some point in the past, this was the scenario for an event to take place:	deutsch
cantar	cantaban	you would sing, chant	you used to sing, chant	you were singing, chanting	Sie sangen
continuar	continuaban	you would continue	you used to continue	you were continuing	Sie machten weiter
encontrar	encontraban	you would meet, encounter	you used to meet, encounter	you were meeting, encountering	Sie trafen
esquiar	esquiaban	you would ski	you used to ski	you were skiing	Sie fuhren/liefen ski
hablar	hablaban	you would speak	you used to speak	you were speaking	Sie sprachen
jugar	jugaban	you would play	you used to play	you were playing	Sie spielten
pensar	pensaban	you would think	you used to think	you were thinking	Sie dachten
preguntar	preguntaban	you would ask (questions)	you used to ask (questions)	you were asking (questions)	Sie fragten
trabajar	trabajaban	you would work, labor	you used to work, labor	you were working, laboring	Sie arbeiteten

The pronoun USTEDES needs to be stated more frequently in the imperfect tense, because the same form is used for ellos, & ellas.

Once it is clear that the conversation is continuing with USTEDES being the subject, you can leave it out.

The USTEDES becomes understood, because of the ending and the context of the conversation.

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

More information concerning the imperfect tense