alarmar Imperfect Conjugation
alarmar — to alarm
The imperfect of alarmar (alarmaba, alarmabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of being alarmed or alarming.
alarmar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a state of being alarmed in the past, or a habitual action of alarming someone. It sets the scene or describes background information, like 'He was always alarming his friends' or 'They used to get alarmed by the thunder.'
Notes on alarmar in the Imperfect
Alarmar is regular in the imperfect tense. The forms are created by adding the standard imperfect endings to the stem.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, me alarmaba con las tormentas.
When I was a child, I used to get alarmed by storms.
yo
¿Tú te alarmabas por las películas de terror?
Did you used to get alarmed by horror movies?
tú
El sistema de seguridad alarmaba a los guardias cada noche.
The security system used to alert the guards every night.
él/ella/usted
Ellos se alarmaban fácilmente con cualquier ruido.
They easily got alarmed by any noise.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras esperábamos, nos alarmábamos un poco.
While we waited, we were getting a little alarmed.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'alarmó' when describing an ongoing past situation.
Correct: Use the imperfect: 'El sistema alarmaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past, while the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros imperfect 'alarmábamos' with the preterite 'alarmamos'.
Correct: Remember the double 'b' in the imperfect: 'alarmábamos'.
Why: The double 'b' is characteristic of the imperfect tense for -ar verbs and clearly distinguishes it from the preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: alarmo
The present tense of alarmar (alarmo, alarmas, alarma, etc.) describes current actions, habits, or general truths about alarming.
Preterite
yo: alarmé
The preterite of alarmar is regular: alarmé, alarmaste, alarmó, alarmamos, alarmasteis, alarmaron, used for completed past actions.
Future
yo: alarmaré
The future tense of alarmar (alarmaré, alarmarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: alarmaría
The conditional of alarmar (alarmaría, alarmarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical results ('would alarm') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alarme
The present subjunctive of alarmar (alarme, alarmes, alarmemos, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alarmara
The imperfect subjunctive of alarmar (e.g., alarmara, alarmaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alarma
Use the imperative of alarmar for direct commands: alarma (tú), alarme (usted), alarmemos (nosotros), alarmen (ustedes), alarmad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no alarmes
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no alarmes (tú), no alarme (usted), no alarmemos (nosotros), no alarmen (ustedes), no alarméis (vosotros).