alquilar Imperfect Conjugation
alquilar — to rent
The imperfect of alquilar is regular: alquilaba, alquilabas, alquilaba, alquilábamos, alquilabais, alquilaban.
alquilar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past related to renting, or to set the scene. For example, 'When I was younger, I used to rent apartments' or 'He was renting the house when the storm started'.
Notes on alquilar in the Imperfect
Alquilar is a regular -ar verb, and its imperfect tense conjugations are formed according to the standard pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando vivía allí, alquilaba un garaje.
When I lived there, I used to rent a garage.
yo
¿Tú alquilabas ese piso antes de mudarte?
Were you renting that apartment before you moved?
tú
Ella alquilaba vestidos para fiestas.
She used to rent dresses for parties.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros alquilábamos kayaks en el lago cada verano.
We used to rent kayaks on the lake every summer.
nosotros
Ellos alquilaban herramientas para la construcción.
They were renting tools for the construction.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('alquiló') when describing a habitual past action.
Correct: For actions that happened repeatedly or were ongoing in the past, use the imperfect: 'Él alquilaba'.
Why: The imperfect tense is used for habitual or continuous actions in the past, not completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' form 'alquilábamos' with the 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' form 'alquilaban'.
Correct: The 'nosotros' form is 'alquilábamos', and the 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' form is 'alquilaban'.
Why: These are distinct conjugations for different subject pronouns.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: alquilo
The present tense of alquilar is regular: alquilo, alquilas, alquila, alquilamos, alquiláis, alquilan.
Preterite
yo: alquilé
The preterite of alquilar is regular: alquilé, alquilaste, alquiló, alquilamos, alquilasteis, alquilaron.
Future
yo: alquilaré
The future of alquilar is regular: alquilaré, alquilarás, alquilará, alquilaremos, alquilaréis, alquilarán.
Conditional
yo: alquilaría
The conditional of alquilar is regular: alquilaría, alquilarías, alquilaría, alquilaríamos, alquilaríais, alquilarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alquile
Use 'alquile', 'alquiles', 'alquilemos', 'alquilen' after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alquilara
Use the imperfect subjunctive forms like 'alquilara' or 'alquilase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alquila
Use 'alquila', 'alquile', 'alquilemos', 'alquilen', 'alquilidad' for direct commands when renting.
Negative Imperative
yo: no alquiles
Use 'no alquiles', 'no alquile', 'no alquilemos', 'no alquilen', 'no alquiléis' for negative commands.