arrojar Imperfect Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect

Use the imperfect of 'arrojar' to describe repeated or ongoing actions of throwing in the past, or to set the scene. For example, 'Cuando era niño, arrojaba piedras al río' (When I was a child, I used to throw stones in the river) or 'El viento arrojaba hojas secas por el patio' (The wind was throwing dry leaves around the yard). It paints a picture of the past.

Notes on arrojar in the Imperfect

Arrojar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms are derived from the infinitive stem 'arroj-' plus the imperfect endings: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.

Example Sentences

• Yo arrojaba agua a las plantas cada mañana.

  I used to throw water on the plants every morning.

  yo

• Tú arrojabas las cartas al buzón sin mirar.

  You used to throw the letters in the mailbox without looking.

  tú

• Él arrojaba arena a los ojos de su hermano.

  He was throwing sand in his brother's eyes.

  él/ella/usted

• Ellos arrojaban flores desde el balcón.

  They were throwing flowers from the balcony.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the preterite for habitual past actions.

  Correct: For repeated actions in the past, use the imperfect: 'Arrojaba piedras' (I used to throw stones).

  Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, whereas the preterite describes completed actions.

• Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'arrojaba' with the present 'arroja'.

  Correct: Ensure you use the '-aba' ending for the imperfect tense when describing past habits or ongoing actions.

  Why: The endings clearly differentiate between present and imperfect tenses.

Related Tenses