abstenerse Imperfect Conjugation
abstenerse — to refrain
The imperfect is regular for abstenerse: me abstenía, te abstenías, se abstenía.
abstenerse Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use it to describe past habits or ongoing states of avoidance, like a diet you used to follow or a behavior you avoided for years.
Notes on abstenerse in the Imperfect
This tense is completely regular. It uses the standard -ía endings for -er verbs.
Example Sentences
Antes, me abstenía de beber café.
Before, I used to refrain from drinking coffee.
yo
Ellos se abstenían siempre de las fiestas.
They always used to refrain from parties.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nos absteníamos de hablar de política.
We used to refrain from talking about politics.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Me abstuviera (when meaning used to).
Correct: Me abstenía.
Why: Abstuviera is subjunctive; for a past habit, you need the indicative imperfect.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me abstengo
The present of abstenerse follows the pattern of tener: me abstengo, te abstienes, se abstiene.
Preterite
yo: me abstuve
The preterite uses the 'uv' stem: me abstuve, te abstuviste, se abstuvo.
Future
yo: me abstendré
The future uses the stem 'abstendr-': me abstendré, te abstendrás, se abstendrá.
Conditional
yo: me abstendría
The conditional uses the stem 'abstendr-': me abstendría, te abstendrías.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me abstenga
The subjunctive uses the 'absteng-' stem: me abstenga, te abstengas, se abstenga.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: me abstuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'abstuv-' stem: me abstuviera, te abstuvieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: abstente
Direct commands: abstente (tú), absténgase (usted), absteneos (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no te abstengas
Negative commands use the subjunctive: no te abstengas, no se abstenga.