cagar Imperfect Conjugation
cagar — to mess up
Use imperfect for ongoing/habitual past actions: 'cagaba' (I used to mess up), 'cagaban' (they used to mess up).
cagar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense describes ongoing actions, habitual actions, or background settings in the past. For 'cagar,' it means you *used to* mess things up regularly, or something *was being* messed up over a period.
Notes on cagar in the Imperfect
Cagar is regular in the imperfect indicative. It follows the standard -ar verb pattern: cagaba, cagabas, cagaba, cagábamos, cagabais, cagaban.
Example Sentences
Yo cagaba mis oportunidades por miedo.
I used to ruin my opportunities out of fear.
yo
Ella cagaba la paciencia de todos.
She used to drive everyone crazy (mess with everyone's patience).
él/ella/usted
Cuando éramos niños, cagábamos las tareas.
When we were kids, we used to mess up our homework.
nosotros
Ellos cagaban el ambiente cada vez que venían.
They used to ruin the atmosphere every time they came.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect and preterite.
Correct: Use imperfect ('cagaba') for ongoing or habitual past actions, and preterite ('cagué') for completed actions.
Why: This is a fundamental difference between the two past tenses, and 'cagar' works the same way as any other verb.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'cagábamos' (nosotros).
Correct: The nosotros form is 'cagábamos' with an accent on the 'á'.
Why: The accent marks the stress and distinguishes it from other potential forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cago
Use present for current actions or habits: 'cago' (I mess up), 'cagan' (they mess up).
Preterite
yo: cagué
Use preterite for completed past actions: 'cagué' (I messed up), 'cagó' (he/she messed up).
Future
yo: cagaré
Use future for predictions: 'cagaré' (I will mess up), 'cagarán' (they will mess up).
Conditional
yo: cagaría
Use conditional for hypotheticals ('would'): 'cagaría' (I would mess up), 'cagarían' (they would mess up).
Present Subjunctive
yo: cague
Use present subjunctive after doubts, wishes, emotions: 'espero que cagues', 'dudo que cague'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cagara
Use 'cagar' imperfect subjunctive for past hypotheticals or wishes: 'si cagara,' 'ojalá cagase'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: caga
Use 'cagar' commands directly: 'caga' (tú), 'caguen' (ustedes), etc.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cagues
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no cagues' (tú), 'no caguen' (ustedes).