atropellar Imperfect Conjugation
atropellar — to run over
The imperfect of atropellar (e.g., 'atropellaba') describes ongoing or habitual past actions of running over.
atropellar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this tense to describe something that used to happen regularly or was in progress in the past. For example, 'El conductor atropellaba postes de luz frecuentemente.' (The driver used to hit utility poles frequently.) or 'Mientras conducía, atropellaba pequeños objetos.' (While he was driving, he was running over small objects.)
Notes on atropellar in the Imperfect
Atropellar is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings '-aba' and '-ía' are standard for regular verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo atropellaba la pelota cuando era niño.
I used to kick the ball hard when I was a child.
yo
Tú atropellabas las respuestas sin pensar.
You used to blurt out answers without thinking.
tú
El coche atropellaba el charco cada mañana.
The car used to splash through the puddle every morning.
él/ella/usted
Ellos atropellaban el tráfico sin piedad.
They used to cut through traffic mercilessly.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed event.
Correct: For a specific past event, use the preterite: 'Atropelló el cono', not 'Atropellaba el cono'.
Why: The imperfect describes duration or habit, while the preterite describes a completed action.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' use '-aba': 'atropellaba'.
Why: Unlike the preterite, these forms are identical in the imperfect tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: atropello
The present tense of atropellar (e.g., 'atropello') means 'I run over' and is used for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: atropellé
The preterite of atropellar (e.g., 'atropellé') describes a specific, completed action of running over in the past.
Future
yo: atropellaré
The future tense of atropellar (e.g., 'atropellaré') indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: atropellaría
The conditional of atropellar (e.g., 'atropellaría') expresses 'would' actions or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: atropelle
The present subjunctive of atropellar (e.g., 'atropelle') expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions about present/future events.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: atropellara
The imperfect subjunctive of atropellar (e.g., 'atropellara') is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: atropella
Use the imperative of atropellar for direct commands like 'atropella' (you, informal) or 'atropellen' (you all, formal).
Negative Imperative
yo: no atropelles
Negative commands for atropellar use the present subjunctive: 'no atropelles' (don't you run over).