cansar Imperfect Conjugation
cansar — to tire (someone) out
The imperfect of cansarse (cansaba, cansabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of tiring oneself out.
cansar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe background situations in the past, or actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously. For example, 'Every afternoon, I used to get tired walking home from school.'
Notes on cansar in the Imperfect
Cansarse is regular in the imperfect indicative. Remember to include the reflexive pronouns before the conjugated verb.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, me cansaba corriendo largas distancias.
When I was young, I used to get tired running long distances.
yo
Tú te cansabas mucho en tus primeros trabajos.
You used to get very tired in your first jobs.
tú
Ellos se cansaban siempre después de la práctica.
They always got tired after practice.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect.
Correct: Use 'Me cansaba siempre', not 'Me cansé siempre'.
Why: The imperfect describes habitual or ongoing past actions, whereas the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun.
Correct: It should be 'se cansaba', not 'cansaba'.
Why: 'Cansarse' requires a reflexive pronoun to indicate the subject is tiring themselves out.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: canso
The present tense of cansarse (canso, cansas, cansa, etc.) describes habitual or current actions of tiring oneself out.
Preterite
yo: cansé
The preterite of cansarse (cansé, cansaste, cansó, etc.) describes completed past actions of tiring oneself out.
Future
yo: cansaré
The future tense of cansarse (cansaré, cansarás, etc.) talks about the future action of tiring oneself out.
Conditional
yo: cansaría
The conditional of cansarse (cansaría, cansarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical situations or polite suggestions about tiring oneself out.
Present Subjunctive
yo: canse
The present subjunctive (cance, canses, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty about tiring oneself out.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cansara
The imperfect subjunctive (cansara, cansaras, etc.) expresses hypothetical or unreal situations in the past related to tiring oneself out.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cansa
Use the imperative of cansarse (cansate, cansate, cansémonos, cansaos, cáñense) for direct commands to get someone to tire themselves out.
Negative Imperative
yo: no canses
Use 'no + present subjunctive' (no te canses, no se canse, etc.) for negative commands telling someone not to tire themselves out.