brotar Imperfect Conjugation
brotar — to sprout
The imperfect 'brotar' (brotábamos, brotaban) describes ongoing or habitual sprouting in the past.
brotar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'brotar' to describe past situations where sprouting was ongoing or habitual. For example, 'Las plantas siempre brotaban en primavera' (The plants always used to sprout in spring) or 'Él brotaba confianza, pero por dentro dudaba' (He exuded confidence, but inside he doubted).
Notes on brotar in the Imperfect
Brotar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, brotaban flores por todas partes en mi pueblo.
When I was a child, flowers used to sprout everywhere in my town.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Yo brotaba alegría cada vez que te veía.
I used to exude joy every time I saw you.
yo
¿Tú brotabas ideas locas en clase?
Did you used to come up with crazy ideas in class?
tú
La vegetación brotaba rápidamente después de las lluvias.
The vegetation was sprouting rapidly after the rains.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single completed action in the past.
Correct: Use the preterite 'brotó' for a single event like 'La semilla brotó ayer'.
Why: The imperfect is for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive past actions, not single completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'brotava' with the preterite 'broté'.
Correct: 'Brotava' describes something that was happening over time, 'broté' describes something that finished.
Why: These tenses have different meanings related to the duration and completion of past actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: broto
The present tense 'brotar' (brotamos, brotan) describes things sprouting now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: broté
The preterite of 'brotar' is regular: broté, brotaste, brotó, brotamos, brotasteis, brotaron.
Future
yo: brotaré
The future tense 'brotará' indicates something will sprout or happen in the future.
Conditional
yo: brotaría
The conditional 'brotaría' expresses what would happen or polite suggestions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: brote
The present subjunctive 'brote' is used after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: brotara
The imperfect subjunctive 'brotara' or 'brotase' is used for hypothetical past situations or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: brota
Use 'brotar' imperative commands like 'brota' (tú) or 'brote' (usted) for direct orders.
Negative Imperative
yo: no brotes
Negative commands for 'brotar' use the present subjunctive after 'no', like 'no brotes' (tú) or 'no brote' (usted).