cavar Imperfect Conjugation
cavar — to dig
Use the imperfect like 'cavaba' (yo) and 'cavaban' (ellos) for ongoing or habitual past actions (used to dig, was digging).
cavar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Describe background actions, ongoing activities, or repeated habits in the past. For example: 'Yo cavaba el jardín cuando empezó a llover.' (I was digging the garden when it started to rain) or 'De niño, cavaba hoyos en la playa.' (As a child, I used to dig holes on the beach).
Notes on cavar in the Imperfect
Cavar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar imperfect conjugation.
Example Sentences
Yo cavaba un hoyo cuando encontré una moneda.
I was digging a hole when I found a coin.
yo
¿Tú cavabas mucho en tu infancia?
Did you used to dig a lot in your childhood?
tú
Ella cavaba la tierra con cuidado.
She was digging the earth carefully.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros cavábamos para buscar agua.
We were digging to look for water.
nosotros
Ellos cavaban sin descanso.
They were digging without rest.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for ongoing past actions.
Correct: Use the imperfect 'cavaba' for actions in progress ('was digging') or habitual past actions ('used to dig').
Why: The preterite ('cavó') describes a completed action, not an ongoing or habitual one.
Mistake: Confusing 'cavaba' (yo) with 'cavaba' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: These forms are identical; rely on the subject pronoun or context to differentiate.
Why: This is a common feature of regular -ar verbs in the imperfect tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cavo
Use the present tense like 'cavo' (yo) and 'cavan' (ellos) for current actions, habits, or general truths about digging.
Preterite
yo: cavé
Use preterite forms like 'cavé' (yo) and 'cavaron' (ellos) for completed digging actions in the past.
Future
yo: cavaré
Future forms like 'cavaré' (yo) and 'cavarán' (ellos) indicate actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cavaría
Use conditional forms like 'cavaría' (yo) and 'cavarían' (ellos) for hypothetical ('would dig') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cave
Use present subjunctive forms like 'cave' (yo) and 'caven' (ellos) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cavara
Use the imperfect subjunctive like 'cavara' or 'cavase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cava
Use imperative forms like 'cava' (tú) and 'caven' (ustedes) for direct commands related to digging.
Negative Imperative
yo: no caves
Use negative commands like 'no caves' (tú) and 'no caven' (ustedes) to tell someone not to dig.