brillar Imperfect Conjugation
brillar — to shine
The imperfect of brillar uses -aba endings: brillaba, brillabas, brillaba, brillábamos, brillabais, brillaban.
brillar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a continuous state of shining in the past or to set the scene. For example, describing how the moon was shining while something else happened.
Notes on brillar in the Imperfect
Brillar is regular in the imperfect. Remember to add the accent on the 'a' only in the nosotros form: brillábamos.
Example Sentences
La luna brillaba mientras caminábamos.
The moon was shining while we were walking.
él/ella/usted
Antes, las luces de la ciudad brillaban más.
Before, the city lights used to shine more.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Tú brillabas de felicidad en esa foto.
You were glowing with happiness in that photo.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'brillía' instead of 'brillaba'.
Correct: brillaba
Why: -ar verbs always use -aba endings in the imperfect, never -ía.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: brillo
Brillar is regular in the present: brillo, brillas, brilla, brillamos, brilláis, brillan.
Preterite
yo: brillé
The preterite of brillar is regular: brillé, brillaste, brilló, brillamos, brillasteis, brillaron.
Future
yo: brillaré
The future of brillar adds endings to the infinitive: brillaré, brillarás, brillará, brillaremos, brillaréis, brillarán.
Conditional
yo: brillaría
The conditional of brillar is regular: brillaría, brillarías, brillaría, brillaríamos, brillaríais, brillarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: brille
The present subjunctive of brillar uses -e endings: brille, brilles, brille, brillemos, brilléis, brillen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: brillara
The imperfect subjunctive of brillar uses -ara endings: brillara, brillaras, brillara, brilláramos, brillarais, brillaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: brilla
The imperative of brillar gives commands: brilla (tú), brillad (vosotros), brille (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no brilles
The negative imperative of brillar uses the subjunctive: no brilles, no brille, no brillemos, no brilléis, no brillen.