avanzar Imperfect Conjugation
avanzar — to move forward
The imperfect of avanzar is regular: avanzaba, avanzabas, avanzaba, avanzábamos, avanzabais, avanzaban.
avanzar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe ongoing progress in the past, or to set the scene (e.g., 'the troops were advancing when...').
Notes on avanzar in the Imperfect
Avanzar is regular in the imperfect. Note that 'avanzaba' is the form for both 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted'.
Example Sentences
Antes, el tráfico avanzaba más rápido.
Before, the traffic used to move faster.
él/ella/usted
Avanzábamos por el bosque en silencio.
We were moving forward through the forest in silence.
nosotros
Ellos avanzaban en sus estudios cada mes.
They were progressing in their studies every month.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'nosotros' form.
Correct: avanzábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the 'a' in the 'nosotros' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: avanzo
The present tense of avanzar is regular: avanzo, avanzas, avanza, avanzamos, avanzáis, avanzan.
Preterite
yo: avancé
The preterite of avanzar features a spelling change in the 'yo' form (avancé) but is otherwise regular.
Future
yo: avanzaré
The future of avanzar is regular, formed by adding endings to the infinitive: avanzaré, avanzarás, avanzará...
Conditional
yo: avanzaría
The conditional of avanzar is regular: avanzaría, avanzarías, avanzaría, avanzaríamos, avanzaríais, avanzarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: avance
The present subjunctive of avanzar always uses a 'c' (avance, avances, avance...) to keep the sound consistent.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: avanzara
The imperfect subjunctive of avanzar is regular: avanzara, avanzaras, avanzara, avanzáramos, avanzarais, avanzaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: avanza
The imperative of avanzar uses 'avanza' for tú and 'avance/avancen' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no avances
The negative imperative of avanzar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms (no avances, no avance...).