aplaudir Imperfect Conjugation
aplaudir — to clap
The imperfect (aplaudía, aplaudías) describes ongoing or habitual past actions and descriptions.
aplaudir Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to describe background settings. For example, 'Cuando era niño, aplaudía mucho' (When I was a child, I used to applaud a lot) or 'La multitud aplaudía mientras salía el sol' (The crowd was applauding as the sun rose).
Notes on aplaudir in the Imperfect
Aplaudir is regular in the imperfect indicative. The forms are consistent for -ir verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo aplaudía cada vez que actuaba.
I used to applaud every time he performed.
yo
Tú aplaudías con mucha energía.
You were applauding with a lot of energy.
tú
Él aplaudía mientras todos los demás estaban sentados.
He was applauding while everyone else was seated.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros aplaudíamos al director.
We used to applaud the director.
nosotros
Ellos aplaudían en cada presentación.
They would applaud at every presentation.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for a habitual past action: 'Cuando era niño, aplaudí mucho'.
Correct: For habitual or ongoing past actions, use the imperfect: 'Cuando era niño, aplaudía mucho'.
Why: The imperfect describes repeated or continuous actions, while the preterite describes completed, single events.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms: 'Yo aplaudía' and 'Él aplaudía'.
Correct: Both yo and él/ella/usted use 'aplaudía' in the imperfect.
Why: These forms are identical in the imperfect tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aplaudo
The present tense (aplaudo, aplaudes) describes current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: aplaudí
The preterite of aplaudir is regular: aplaudí, aplaudiste, aplaudió, aplaudimos, aplaudisteis, aplaudieron.
Future
yo: aplaudiré
The future tense (aplaudiré, aplaudirás) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: aplaudiría
The conditional (aplaudiría, aplaudirías) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aplauda
The present subjunctive (aplauda, aplaudas) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aplaudiera
The imperfect subjunctive (aplaudiera/aplaudiese) is for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aplaude
Use 'aplaude' (tú), 'aplauda' (usted), 'aplaudamos' (nosotros), 'aplaudan' (ustedes), 'aplaudid' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no aplaudas
Commands with 'no' use the present subjunctive: 'no aplaudas' (tú), 'no aplauda' (usted), etc.