aterrar Imperfect Conjugation
aterrar — to terrify
The imperfect 'aterraba', 'aterrabas' describes ongoing or habitual past actions that terrified.
aterrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. For 'aterrar', it could describe something that *used to* terrify someone or was in the process of terrifying them.
Notes on aterrar in the Imperfect
Aterrar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The forms are aterrabas, aterraba, aterraba, aterrábamos, aterrabais, aterraban.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, la oscuridad me aterraba.
When I was a child, the dark used to terrify me.
yo
Esa vieja casa siempre nos aterraba.
That old house always used to terrify us.
nosotros
Mientras veíamos la película, la música nos aterraba.
While we were watching the movie, the music was terrifying us.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Qué te aterraba en ese entonces?
What used to terrify you back then?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Correct: Use 'aterraba' for ongoing/habitual past terror, not 'aterró'.
Why: The imperfect describes the background or continuous nature of past events, while the preterite marks a completed action.
Mistake: Incorrect accent on the 'nosotros' form.
Correct: The 'nosotros' form is 'aterrábamos' with an accent on the 'a'.
Why: The accent is needed to maintain the correct pronunciation and stress.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aterro
The present tense 'aterro', 'aterras', 'aterra' describes current actions or habitual terrors.
Preterite
yo: aterré
The preterite of aterrar is regular: aterré, aterraron, etc., for completed past actions.
Future
yo: aterraré
The future tense 'aterraré', 'aterrarás' indicates actions that will terrify.
Conditional
yo: aterraría
The conditional 'aterraría' expresses 'would terrify' or polite suggestions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aterre
Use present subjunctive like 'aterre' (yo/él/ella/usted) or 'aterren' (ustedes) after expressions of doubt, emotion, or desire.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aterrara
Use the imperfect subjunctive like 'aterrara' or 'aterraras' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aterra
Use imperative forms like 'aterra' (tú) and 'aterren' (ustedes) for direct commands with aterrar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no aterres
Negative commands like 'no aterres' (tú) and 'no aterren' (ustedes) use the present subjunctive.