apurar Imperfect Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect

Use the imperfect tense of 'apurar' to describe actions of hurrying that were ongoing in the past, or that happened habitually. It sets the scene or describes background actions in a past narrative.

Notes on apurar in the Imperfect

Apurar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms are straightforward.

Example Sentences

• Cuando era niño, siempre apuraba para jugar antes de que oscureciera.

  When I was a child, I always hurried to play before it got dark.

  yo

• Tú apurabas mucho para terminar tus deberes.

  You used to hurry a lot to finish your homework.

  tú

• El mensajero apuraba por toda la ciudad.

  The messenger was hurrying all over the city.

  él/ella/usted

• Nosotros apurábamos para llegar a la estación a tiempo.

  We were hurrying to get to the station on time.

  nosotros

• Ellos apuraban mucho en el trabajo para cumplir con los plazos.

  They used to hurry a lot at work to meet deadlines.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the preterite 'apuró' when describing a habitual action in the past.

  Correct: For habitual past actions, use the imperfect: 'Él siempre apuraba...'

  Why: The imperfect describes repeated or ongoing actions in the past, whereas the preterite describes single, completed events.

• Mistake: Confusing the imperfect subjunctive '-ra/-se' forms with the imperfect indicative.

  Correct: The imperfect indicative forms end in -aba/-ía (e.g., apuraba, apuraba).

  Why: These are distinct tenses with different uses; the indicative describes reality, while the subjunctive describes hypotheticals or desires.

Related Tenses