coleccionar Imperfect Conjugation
coleccionar — to collect
Past ongoing/habitual actions: 'Yo coleccionaba' (I used to collect), 'Ellos coleccionaban' (They used to collect).
coleccionar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions ('used to collect'), or background settings. It paints a picture of what collecting was like over a period of time.
Notes on coleccionar in the Imperfect
Coleccionar is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo coleccionaba cromos de fútbol cuando era niño.
I used to collect soccer cards when I was a child.
yo
¿Tú coleccionabas algo especial?
Did you collect anything special?
tú
Ella coleccionaba muñecas antiguas y las cuidaba mucho.
She collected antique dolls and took great care of them.
él/ella/usted
Ellos coleccionaban sellos de todo el mundo.
They collected stamps from all over the world.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for a habitual past action.
Correct: For habits or ongoing actions in the past, use the imperfect: 'Coleccionaba sellos' (I used to collect stamps), not 'Coleccioné sellos'.
Why: The imperfect describes the duration or repetition of an action, whereas the preterite focuses on its completion.
Mistake: Confusing 'coleccionábamos' (imperfect) with 'coleccionamos' (present/preterite).
Correct: Pay attention to the ending: '-ábamos' for imperfect, '-amos' for present/preterite. 'Nosotros coleccionábamos' implies a past habit.
Why: The similarity in spelling can lead to errors. The '-ba-' stem is characteristic of the imperfect.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: colecciono
Current actions/habits: 'Yo colecciono' (I collect), 'Ellos coleccionan' (They collect).
Preterite
yo: coleccioné
Completed action: 'Yo coleccioné' (I collected), 'Ellos coleccionaron' (They collected).
Future
yo: coleccionaré
Future actions: 'Yo coleccionaré' (I will collect), 'Ellos coleccionarán' (They will collect).
Conditional
yo: coleccionaría
Hypothetical/polite: 'Yo coleccionaría' (I would collect), 'Ellos coleccionarían' (They would collect).
Present Subjunctive
yo: coleccione
Present subjunctive: 'Espero que colecciones...' (I hope you collect...).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: coleccionara
Past subjunctive: 'Si coleccionara...' (If I were to collect...).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: colecciona
Commands like '¡Colecciona!' or '¡Coleccionad!' for 'collect'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no colecciones
Negative commands: '¡No colecciones!' or '¡No coleccionen!' for 'don't collect'.