colocar Imperfect Conjugation
colocar — to place
The imperfect of colocar is regular: colocaba, colocabas, colocaba, colocábamos, colocabais, colocaban.
colocar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe where things used to be placed or a repeated action of placing things in the past.
Notes on colocar in the Imperfect
This tense is regular. Note the accent on the 'nosotros' form (colocábamos).
Example Sentences
Antes, yo colocaba las fotos aquí.
Before, I used to place the photos here.
yo
Mi abuela colocaba flores en la entrada.
My grandmother used to put flowers in the entrance.
él/ella/usted
Siempre colocábamos la mesa juntos.
We always used to set (place) the table together.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: colocabamos
Correct: colocábamos
Why: All -ar imperfect 'nosotros' forms require an accent on the first 'a' of the ending.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'colocar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: coloco
The present tense of colocar is completely regular: coloco, colocas, coloca, colocamos, colocáis, colocan.
Preterite
yo: coloqué
The preterite of colocar features a spelling change in the first person: coloqué, colocaste, colocó, colocamos, colocasteis, colocaron.
Future
yo: colocaré
The future tense of colocar is regular: colocaré, colocarás, colocará, colocaremos, colocaréis, colocarán.
Conditional
yo: colocaría
The conditional of colocar is regular: colocaría, colocarías, colocaría, colocaríamos, colocaríais, colocarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: coloque
The present subjunctive of colocar uses 'qu' in all forms: coloque, coloques, coloque, coloquemos, coloquéis, coloquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: colocara
The imperfect subjunctive of colocar is regular: colocara, colocaras, colocara, colocáramos, colocarais, colocaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: coloca
The imperative of colocar gives commands: coloca (tú), coloque (usted), coloquemos (nosotros), colocad (vosotros), coloquen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no coloques
The negative imperative of colocar uses 'qu' throughout: no coloques, no coloque, no coloquemos, no coloquéis, no coloquen.