burlar Imperfect Conjugation
burlar — to evade
Use imperfect for past habits or ongoing actions: burlaba, burlabas, burlábamos, burlaban.
burlar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect is for describing ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or setting the scene. For example, 'When I was little, I used to evade chores' (Cuando era pequeño, burlaba las tareas) or 'He was evading the topic' (Él burlaba el tema).
Notes on burlar in the Imperfect
Burlar is regular in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Yo burlaba las responsabilidades cuando era joven.
I used to evade responsibilities when I was young.
yo
¿Tú siempre burlabas las reglas?
Did you always bend the rules?
tú
Ella burlaba las preguntas difíciles en clase.
She would dodge the difficult questions in class.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros burlábamos la vigilancia.
We were evading the surveillance.
nosotros
Ellos burlaban la justicia.
They were evading justice.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('burló') for a repeated or ongoing action in the past.
Correct: Use the imperfect ('burlaba') for habits or descriptions of past situations.
Why: The imperfect describes the background or continuous nature of past events, not completed single instances.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'burlaba' with the preterite 'burló'.
Correct: Remember that 'burlaba' (and its variations) indicates ongoing or habitual past actions, while 'burló' indicates a completed one.
Why: This is a fundamental distinction between the two past tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: burlo
Use the present for current actions or habits: burlo, burlas, burla, burlamos, burlan.
Preterite
yo: burlé
Use the preterite for completed past actions: burlé, burlaste, burló, burlamos, burlaron.
Future
yo: burlaré
Use the future for what will happen: burlaré, burlarás, burlará, burlaremos, burlarán.
Conditional
yo: burlaría
Use conditional for hypotheticals or polite requests: burlaría, burlarías, burlaríamos, burlarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: burle
Used for wishes, doubts, or emotions: burle, burles, burlemos, burlen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: burlara
Used for past hypotheticals or wishes: burlara, burlaras, burláramos, burlaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: burla
Use commands with 'burlar': burla, burle, burlemos, burlad, burlen.
Negative Imperative
yo: no burles
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no burles, no burle, no burlemos, no burléis, no burlen.