chillar Imperfect Conjugation
chillar — to scream
The imperfect of chillar (chillaba, chillabas, chillaba, chillábamos, chillabais, chillaban) describes ongoing or habitual past screaming.
chillar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'chillar' to describe actions of screaming that were happening over a period of time in the past, or that used to happen regularly. It sets the background scene.
Notes on chillar in the Imperfect
Chillar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, chillaba mucho en el parque.
When I was a child, I used to scream a lot in the park.
yo
El bebé chillaba mientras lo cambiaban.
The baby was screaming while they changed him.
él/ella/usted
Antes, ellos chillaban cada vez que jugaban.
Before, they used to scream every time they played.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Tú siempre chillabas cuando te asustaban.
You always screamed when they scared you.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for ongoing past actions.
Correct: Use 'Chillaba cuando era joven' for ongoing past actions, not 'Chillé cuando era joven'.
Why: The imperfect describes actions in progress or habitual actions in the past, not completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing imperfect and preterite meanings.
Correct: Remember imperfect is for 'was screaming' or 'used to scream', preterite is for 'screamed' (a completed event).
Why: This is a fundamental difference between the two past tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: chillo
The present tense of chillar (chillo, chillas, chilla, chillamos, chilláis, chillan) is for actions happening now or habitual screaming.
Preterite
yo: chillé
The preterite of chillar (chillé, chillaste, chilló, chillamos, chillasteis, chillaron) describes completed past actions.
Future
yo: chillaré
The future tense of chillar (chillaré, chillarás, chillará, chillaremos, chillaréis, chillarán) expresses actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: chillaría
The conditional of chillar (chillaría, chillarías, chillaría, chillaríamos, chillaríais, chillarían) is used for hypotheticals ('would scream').
Present Subjunctive
yo: chille
The present subjunctive of chillar (chille, chilles, chillemos, chillen) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: chillara
The imperfect subjunctive of chillar (chillara/chillase) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: chilla
Use chilla, chille, chillad, chillemos, chillen for direct commands with chillar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no chilles
Negative commands with chillar use 'no' + present subjunctive: no chilles, no chille, no chilléis, no chillemos, no chillen.