autorizar Imperfect Conjugation
autorizar — to authorize
The imperfect is regular: autorizaba, autorizabas, autorizaba, autorizábamos, autorizabais, autorizaban.
autorizar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this to describe a past state of authorization, or a process of authorizing that was ongoing or habitual.
Notes on autorizar in the Imperfect
This verb is regular in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Antes, el gerente autorizaba todos los gastos.
Before, the manager used to authorize all expenses.
él/ella/usted
Mientras yo autorizaba los archivos, él revisaba los datos.
While I was authorizing the files, he was checking the data.
yo
Ellos no autorizaban nada sin consultarme.
They wouldn't authorize anything without consulting me.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing 'autorizaba' (yo/él) with 'autorizaban' (ellos).
Correct: Check the subject of the sentence.
Why: The 'yo' and 'él/ella' forms are identical in the imperfect, so context or pronouns are vital.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: autorizo
The present tense is fully regular: autorizo, autorizas, autoriza, autorizamos, autorizáis, autorizan.
Preterite
yo: autoricé
The preterite is regular except for the 'yo' form spelling change: autoricé, autorizaste, autorizó, autorizamos, autorizasteis, autorizaron.
Future
yo: autorizaré
The future tense is regular: autorizaré, autorizarás, autorizará, autorizaremos, autorizaréis, autorizarán.
Conditional
yo: autorizaría
The conditional is regular: autorizaría, autorizarías, autorizaría, autorizaríamos, autorizaríais, autorizarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: autorice
The present subjunctive of autorizar features a Z to C spelling change: autorice, autorices, autorice, autoricemos, autoricéis, autoricen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: autorizara
The imperfect subjunctive is regular: autorizara, autorizaras, autorizara, autorizáramos, autorizarais, autorizaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: autoriza
The imperative uses 'autoriza' (tú) and 'autorice' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no autorices
The negative imperative always uses the 'c' spelling: no autorices, no autorice, no autoricemos, no autoricéis, no autoricen.