ajustar Imperfect Conjugation
ajustar — to adjust
The imperfect of 'ajustar' (ajustaba, ajustabas, ajustaba, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
ajustar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe background situations in the past, habitual actions ('I used to adjust the thermostat'), or actions in progress ('He was adjusting the picture while I spoke').
Notes on ajustar in the Imperfect
'Ajustar' is regular in the imperfect tense. The stem is 'ajust-' and you add the standard imperfect endings: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
Example Sentences
Yo ajustaba mi reloj cada mañana.
I used to adjust my watch every morning.
yo
Tú siempre ajustabas la silla demasiado.
You always adjusted the chair too much.
tú
Él ajustaba el foco mientras hablábamos.
He was adjusting the focus while we were talking.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros ajustábamos los planes a menudo.
We often adjusted the plans.
nosotros
Ellos ajustaban la ropa antes de la pasarela.
They were adjusting the clothes before the catwalk.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For 'I adjusted the volume once', use 'Ajusté el volumen una vez', not 'Ajustaba el volumen una vez'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, not single completed events.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'ajustábamos'.
Correct: The correct form is 'ajustábamos', with the accent on the 'a'.
Why: The accent is needed to maintain the correct stress pattern for this form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: ajusto
The present tense of 'ajustar' (ajusto, ajustas, ajusta, etc.) is used for current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: ajusté
The preterite of 'ajustar' is regular: ajusté, ajustaste, ajustó, ajustamos, ajustasteis, ajustaron.
Future
yo: ajustaré
The future tense of 'ajustar' (ajustaré, ajustarás, ajustará, etc.) indicates actions that will happen later.
Conditional
yo: ajustaría
The conditional of 'ajustar' (ajustaría, ajustarías, etc.) is used for hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: ajuste
The present subjunctive of 'ajustar' (ajuste, ajustes, ajustemos, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: ajustara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'ajustar' (e.g., ajustara, ajustaras) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ajusta
Imperative commands for 'ajustar': ajusta (tú), ajuste (usted), ajustemos (nosotros), ajusten (ustedes), ajustad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no ajustes
Negative commands for 'ajustar' use the present subjunctive: no ajustes (tú), no ajuste (usted), no ajustemos (nosotros), no ajusten (ustedes), no ajustéis (vosotros).