callar Imperfect Conjugation
callar — to be silent
The imperfect of callar is regular: callaba, callabas, callaba, callábamos, callabais, callaban.
callar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a past state of being silent, a habit of not speaking, or background silence during another event.
Notes on callar in the Imperfect
Callar is regular in the imperfect. Note the accent on the 'á' only in the nosotros form.
Example Sentences
De niño, yo callaba mis sentimientos.
As a child, I used to keep my feelings to myself.
yo
Mientras el jefe hablaba, todos callaban.
While the boss was speaking, everyone was silent.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Vosotros callabais siempre que había visitas.
You all used to be quiet whenever there were visitors.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent in callábamos.
Correct: The nosotros form is callábamos.
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the first 'a' of the -ábamos ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: callo
The present tense of callar is regular: callo, callas, calla, callamos, calláis, callan.
Preterite
yo: callé
The preterite of callar is regular: callé, callaste, calló, callamos, callasteis, callaron.
Future
yo: callaré
The future of callar is regular: callaré, callarás, callará, callaremos, callaréis, callarán.
Conditional
yo: callaría
The conditional of callar is regular: callaría, callarías, callaría, callaríamos, callaríais, callarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: calle
The present subjunctive of callar is regular: calle, calles, calle, callemos, calléis, callen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: callara
The imperfect subjunctive of callar is regular: callara, callaras, callara, calláramos, callarais, callaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: calla
The imperative of callar uses calla (tú), callad (vosotros), and subjunctive forms for others.
Negative Imperative
yo: no calles
The negative imperative of callar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms.