avisar Imperfect Conjugation
avisar — notify
The imperfect of avisar (avisaba, avisabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past notifications.
avisar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or used as background description. It answers 'What was happening?' or 'What used to happen?'.
Notes on avisar in the Imperfect
Avisar is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, avisaba a mis padres si me iba a quedar fuera.
When I was a child, I used to notify my parents if I was going to stay out.
yo
Tú siempre avisabas cuando venías tarde.
You always used to notify us when you were coming late.
tú
El guardia avisaba a los visitantes.
The guard was notifying the visitors.
él/ella/usted
Ellos nos avisaban por teléfono.
They used to notify us by phone.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for completed past actions.
Correct: For completed actions, use the preterite: 'Me avisó ayer' (He notified me yesterday), not 'Me avisaba ayer'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not single, finished events.
Mistake: Confusing imperfect and preterite.
Correct: Think: imperfect = ongoing/habitual ('was notifying', 'used to notify'); preterite = completed ('notified').
Why: This is a fundamental difference between the two past tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aviso
The present tense of avisar (aviso, avisas, avisa, etc.) means 'notify' or 'warn'.
Preterite
yo: avisé
The preterite of avisar (avisé, avisaste, avisó, etc.) means 'notified' or 'warned' about a completed action.
Future
yo: avisaré
The future tense of avisar (avisaré, avisarás, avisará, etc.) means 'will notify'.
Conditional
yo: avisaría
The conditional of avisar (avisaría, avisarías, etc.) means 'would notify'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: avise
The present subjunctive of avisar (avise, avises, avisemos, aviséis, avisen) is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: avisara
The imperfect subjunctive of avisar (avisara/avisase) expresses hypothetical past actions or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: avisa
Avisa (tú), avise (usted), avisemos (nosotros), avisad (vosotros), avisen (ustedes) are the commands for 'avisar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no avises
No avises (tú), no avise (usted), no avisemos (nosotros), no aviséis (vosotros), no avisen (ustedes) are the negative commands for 'avisar'.