calibrar Imperfect Conjugation
calibrar — to calibrate
The imperfect of calibrar (calibraba, calibrabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
calibrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for 'calibrar' to describe actions that were happening over a period of time in the past, or actions that were done habitually. It sets the background scene.
Notes on calibrar in the Imperfect
'Calibrar' is a regular -ar verb and has no irregularities in the imperfect tense. All forms follow the standard conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era técnico, calibraba muchos equipos.
When I was a technician, I used to calibrate many devices.
yo
¿Tú calibrabas la presión de los neumáticos cada semana?
Did you used to calibrate the tire pressure every week?
tú
Ella calibraba el péndulo mientras yo leía.
She was calibrating the pendulum while I was reading.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros calibrábamos el proyector antes de cada presentación.
We used to calibrate the projector before each presentation.
nosotros
Ellos calibraban los instrumentos de precisión.
They were calibrating the precision instruments.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('calibró') for a habitual past action instead of the imperfect ('calibraba').
Correct: For habitual actions ('used to calibrate'), use the imperfect: 'Yo calibraba'.
Why: The imperfect describes routines and ongoing states in the past, while the preterite describes completed events.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'calibrábamos'.
Correct: The correct form is 'calibrábamos', with the accent on the double 'b'.
Why: The accent marks the stress on the correct syllable for the 'nosotros' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: calibro
The present tense of calibrar (calibro, calibras, etc.) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: calibré
Calibrar is regular in the preterite: calibré, calibraste, calibró, calibrámos, calibrásteis, calibráron.
Future
yo: calibraré
The future tense of calibrar (calibraré, calibrarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: calibraría
The conditional of calibrar (calibraría, calibrarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical actions ('would calibrate') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: calibre
The present subjunctive of calibrar (calibre, calibres, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: calibrara
The imperfect subjunctive of calibrar (e.g., calibrara, calibraras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: calibra
Calibrar's imperative forms are mostly regular, with a few exceptions: calibra (tú), calibre (usted), calibremos (nosotros), calibren (ustedes), calibrad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no calibres
Negative commands for 'calibrar' use the present subjunctive: no calibras (tú), no calibre (usted), no calibremos (nosotros), no calibren (ustedes), no calibréis (vosotros).