aferrar Imperfect Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect

Use the imperfect tense for ongoing actions of 'grasping' or habitual actions in the past. It describes the background or setting, or actions without a clear beginning or end.

Notes on aferrar in the Imperfect

Aferrar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms are straightforward.

Example Sentences

• Cuando era niño, me aferraba a mi oso de peluche.

  When I was a child, I used to cling to my teddy bear.

  yo

• Ella se aferraba al pasamanos mientras el barco se movía.

  She was holding onto the handrail while the boat was moving.

  él/ella/usted

• ¿Te aferrabas a esa idea entonces?

  Were you holding onto that idea back then?

  tú

• Los manifestantes se aferraban a sus pancartas.

  The protesters were holding onto their signs.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

• Nosotros nos aferrábamos a la última oportunidad.

  We were clinging to the last chance.

  nosotros

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the imperfect for a completed action.

  Correct: Use 'Aferró la cuerda' (He grasped the rope) for a single event, not 'Aferraba la cuerda'.

  Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not single completed ones.

• Mistake: Confusing the vosotros imperfect form.

  Correct: The correct form is 'aferrabais', not 'aferrabais' (which is present).

  Why: The imperfect for vosotros has a 'b' before the '-ais' ending.

Related Tenses