borrar Imperfect Conjugation
borrar — erase
The imperfect of borrar (borraba, borrabas, borraba, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
borrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe background actions in the past, habitual actions ('I used to erase'), or ongoing actions ('I was erasing'). It sets the scene without a defined end point.
Notes on borrar in the Imperfect
Borrrar is regular in the imperfect indicative. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs in this tense.
Example Sentences
Yo siempre borraba los dibujos que no me gustaban.
I always used to erase the drawings I didn't like.
yo
Tú borraba la pizarra mientras el profesor hablaba.
You were erasing the whiteboard while the teacher was talking.
tú
Ella borraba las marcas de lápiz antes de pintar.
She used to erase the pencil marks before painting.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros borrábamos las fotos antiguas de la pared.
We used to erase the old photos from the wall.
nosotros
Ellos borraban sus nombres de la lista cada semana.
They used to erase their names from the list every week.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: Use the preterite for completed actions (e.g., 'borré la nota').
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not a specific event that finished.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect and preterite.
Correct: Remember: imperfect = ongoing/habitual/description; preterite = completed action.
Why: This is a fundamental distinction in Spanish past tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: borro
The present tense of borrar (borro, borras, borra, etc.) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: borré
The preterite of borrar (borré, borraste, borró, etc.) indicates completed actions in the past.
Future
yo: borraré
The future tense of borrar (borraré, borrarás, borrará, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: borraría
The conditional of borrar (borraría, borrarías, borraría, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: borre
The present subjunctive of borrar (borre, borres, borremos, etc.) is used after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: borrara
The imperfect subjunctive of borrar (e.g., borrara, borraras, borráramos) expresses past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: borra
Use 'borra' (tú), 'borre' (usted), 'borremos' (nosotros), 'borrad' (vosotros), 'borren' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no borres
Use 'no borres' (tú), 'no borre' (usted), 'no borremos' (nosotros), 'no borréis' (vosotros), 'no borren' (ustedes) for negative commands.