amontonar Imperfect Conjugation
amontonar — to pile up
Use the imperfect of amontonar (amontonaba, amontonabas, etc.) for ongoing or habitual past actions.
amontonar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense describes actions that were happening continuously in the past, habitual actions (things that used to happen regularly), or sets the scene for a story. Think of it as 'used to pile up' or 'was piling up'.
Notes on amontonar in the Imperfect
Amontonar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms follow the standard -ar imperfect conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, yo amontonaba mis juguetes en mi cuarto.
When I was a child, I used to pile up my toys in my room.
yo
¿Tú amontonabas las cartas en un solo montón?
Were you piling up the letters into a single pile?
tú
El conserje amontonaba las sillas después de cada evento.
The janitor used to pile up the chairs after each event.
él/ella/usted
Ellos amontonaban la nieve a lo largo del camino.
They were piling up the snow along the path.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'amontonó' for a habitual past action.
Correct: Use 'amontonaba' to describe repeated or ongoing past actions.
Why: The preterite marks a completed action, while the imperfect describes duration or habit.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect forms with the present tense.
Correct: Remember the '-aba' endings for the imperfect tense (e.g., 'amontonaba').
Why: The imperfect has distinct endings that signal past, ongoing, or habitual actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: amontono
Use the present tense of amontonar (amontono, amontonas, etc.) for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: amontoné
Use the preterite of amontonar (amontoné, amontonaste, etc.) for completed actions in the past.
Future
yo: amontonaré
Use the future tense of amontonar (amontonaré, amontonarás, etc.) to talk about actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: amontonaría
Use the conditional of amontonar (amontonaría, amontonarías, etc.) for hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: amontone
Use the present subjunctive (amontone, amontones, etc.) after expressions of desire, doubt, or emotion with amontonar.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: amontonara
Use the imperfect subjunctive (amontonara/amontonase) for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts with amontonar.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: amontona
Use amontona, amontone, amontonemos, amontonad, amontonen for direct commands with amontonar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no amontones
Use no amontones, no amontone, no amontonemos, no amontonéis, no amontonen for negative commands with amontonar.