atormentar Imperfect Conjugation
atormentar — to torment
The imperfect of atormentar (atormentaba, atormentabas) describes ongoing or habitual torment in the past.
atormentar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to set the background scene. It describes the 'state' of being tormented or the ongoing action of tormenting.
Notes on atormentar in the Imperfect
'Atormentar' is regular in the imperfect indicative tense, following the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
El fantasma atormentaba a los habitantes del castillo.
The ghost used to torment the castle inhabitants.
él/ella/usted
Cuando éramos niños, nos atormentábamos con historias de miedo.
When we were kids, we used to torment each other with scary stories.
nosotros
Ella siempre atormentaba a su hermano pequeño.
She always used to torment her little brother.
él/ella/usted
¿Me atormentabas tú con tus pesadillas cada noche?
Did you used to torment me with your nightmares every night?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for a description or ongoing past action.
Correct: For habitual tormenting ('She always tormented him'), use 'atormentaba' (imperfect), not 'atormentó' (preterite).
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, whereas the preterite describes completed, single events.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros and vosotros forms.
Correct: The nosotros form is 'atormentábamos', and the vosotros form is 'atormentabais'.
Why: These are distinct conjugations for the first and second person plural in the imperfect.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: atormento
The present tense of atormentar (atormento, atormentas, atormenta) describes current or habitual tormenting.
Preterite
yo: atormenté
Atormentar is regular in the preterite: atormenté, atormentaste, atormentó, atormentamos, atormentasteis, atormentaron.
Future
yo: atormentaré
The future tense of atormentar (atormentaré, atormentarás) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: atormentaría
The conditional of atormentar (atormentaría, atormentarías) expresses hypothetical 'would' scenarios.
Present Subjunctive
yo: atormente
The present subjunctive of atormentar (atormente, atormentes, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: atormentara
The imperfect subjunctive of atormentar (atormentara/atormentase) is used for past hypothetical situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: atormenta
Use the imperative of atormentar for direct commands: atormenta (tú), atormente (usted), etc.
Negative Imperative
yo: no atormentes
Negative commands for atormentar use the present subjunctive: no atormentes (tú), no atormente (usted), etc.