alternar Imperfect Conjugation
alternar — to alternate
The imperfect 'alternaba', 'alternabas', 'alternaba', 'alternábamos', 'alternabais', 'alternaban' describes habitual or ongoing past actions.
alternar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions that were happening regularly or continuously in the past, or to describe background settings. For 'alternar,' it means something that used to happen repeatedly or was in the process of alternating.
Notes on alternar in the Imperfect
Alternar is regular in the imperfect tense, conjugating like other -ar verbs. All forms are predictable.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, alternaba mis estudios con el deporte.
When I was a child, I used to alternate my studies with sports.
yo
Ella siempre alternaba los vestidos para ir a trabajar.
She always alternated dresses when going to work.
él/ella/usted
Antes, los trenes alternaban entre dos estaciones.
Before, the trains used to alternate between two stations.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Alternabais vosotros las guardias por la noche?
Did you guys used to alternate the watches at night?
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For a specific completed action, use the preterite (e.g., 'alternó').
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not single events.
Mistake: Forgetting the double 'b' in the imperfect forms.
Correct: Remember the 'bab' stem: alternaba, alternabas, alternaba, alternábamos, alternabais, alternaban.
Why: This is a common spelling error for imperfect -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: alterno
The present tense 'alterno', 'alternas', 'alterna', 'alternamos', 'alternáis', 'alternan' describes habitual actions, current actions, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: alterné
The preterite of 'alternar' is regular: alterné, alternaste, alternó, alternamos, alternasteis, alternaron.
Future
yo: alternaré
The future tense 'alternaré', 'alternarás', 'alternará', 'alternaremos', 'alternaréis', 'alternarán' indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: alternaría
The conditional 'alternaría', 'alternarías', 'alternaría', 'alternaríamos', 'alternaríais', 'alternarían' expresses hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alterne
The present subjunctive (alterne, alternes, alternemos, alternen, alternéis) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alternara
The imperfect subjunctive (alternara/alternase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alterna
Use 'alterna' (tú), 'alterne' (usted), 'alternemos' (nosotros), 'alternen' (ustedes), 'alternad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no alternes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no alternes' (tú), 'no alterne' (usted), 'no alternemos' (nosotros), 'no alternen' (ustedes), 'no alternéis' (vosotros).