anticipar Imperfect Conjugation
anticipar — to move forward
The imperfect of anticipar (anticipaba, anticipabas, etc.) describes past habits or ongoing actions.
anticipar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'anticipar' to describe habitual actions in the past (e.g., always anticipating something), ongoing actions in the past (e.g., while I was anticipating), or to set the scene in the past.
Notes on anticipar in the Imperfect
Anticipar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms are conjugated according to the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo anticipaba las necesidades de mis clientes.
I used to anticipate my clients' needs.
yo
¿Tú anticipabas su llegada a esa hora?
Were you expecting them to arrive at that time?
tú
Él anticipaba el peligro constantemente.
He was constantly anticipating danger.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros anticipábamos los cambios del mercado.
We used to anticipate market changes.
nosotros
Ellas anticipaban la fiesta con mucha ilusión.
They were looking forward to the party with great excitement.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'anticipó' for a past habit.
Correct: Use the imperfect 'anticipaba' for past habits or ongoing actions.
Why: The imperfect describes continuous or repeated actions in the past, whereas the preterite describes single, completed events.
Mistake: Confusing 'anticipaba' (yo) with 'anticipaba' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: These forms are identical. Context or subject pronouns clarify who is performing the action.
Why: The yo and él/ella/usted forms are the same in the imperfect indicative for regular -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: anticipo
The present tense of anticipar (anticipo, anticipas, etc.) describes actions happening now or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: anticipé
The preterite of anticipar is regular: anticipé, anticipaste, anticipó, anticipamos, anticipasteis, anticiparon.
Future
yo: anticiparé
The future tense of anticipar (anticiparé, anticiparás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: anticiparía
The conditional of anticipar (anticiparía, anticiparías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions or polite suggestions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: anticipe
The present subjunctive of anticipar (anticipe, anticipes, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, and emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: anticipara
The imperfect subjunctive of anticipar (anticipara, anticiparas, etc.) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: anticipa
The imperative of anticipar is mostly regular, with 'anticipa' for tú and 'anticipemos' for nosotros.
Negative Imperative
yo: no anticipes
Negative commands for anticipar use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no anticipes, no anticipe, no anticipemos.