Inklingo
A colorful illustration of a kitchen sink filled with water because the drain is blocked by a small toy.

atorar Imperfect Conjugation

atorarto clog

B1regular -ar★★★
Quick answer:

The imperfect of atorar (atoraba, atorabas, atoraba, atorábamos, atorabais, atoraban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.

atorar Imperfect Forms

yoatoraba
atorabas
él/ella/ustedatoraba
nosotrosatorábamos
vosotrosatorabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesatoraban

When to Use the Imperfect

Use the imperfect tense of 'atorar' to describe past situations where something was continuously getting clogged or blocked, or when it happened habitually. It sets the scene or describes background conditions in the past.

Notes on atorar in the Imperfect

Atorar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the imperfect tense.

Example Sentences

  • La basura se atoraba en el desagüe cada semana.

    The trash used to clog the drain every week.

    él/ella/usted

  • Mientras él atoraba el pasillo con sus cosas, yo intentaba pasar.

    While he was blocking the hallway with his things, I was trying to get through.

    él/ella/usted

  • Recuerdo que tú siempre atoras la impresora cuando tienes prisa.

    I remember you always jamming the printer when you're in a hurry.

  • Ellos atoraban el tráfico sin querer.

    They were unintentionally blocking the traffic.

    ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: Using the imperfect ('atoraba') for a single, completed past action.

    Correct: For a specific instance of clogging, use the preterite: 'El pelo aturó el desagüe.'

    Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, not single, finished events.

  • Mistake: Confusing 'atorábamos' (imperfect) with 'atoramos' (present/preterite).

    Correct: The imperfect 'nosotros' form is 'atorábamos', with a double 'b'.

    Why: The double 'b' is characteristic of the imperfect tense for -ar verbs and helps distinguish it from the present/preterite.

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Related Tenses