comparar Imperfect Conjugation
comparar — to compare
The imperfect of comparar follows the standard -aba pattern: comparaba, comparabas, comparaba, comparábamos.
comparar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this for ongoing or habitual comparisons in the past, like when you used to compare your grades with your siblings' grades every year.
Notes on comparar in the Imperfect
Comparar is regular in the imperfect. Remember the accent on the 'nosotros' form: comparábamos.
Example Sentences
De niño, yo siempre comparaba mis juguetes con los de mi primo.
As a child, I always used to compare my toys with my cousin's.
yo
Antes, comparábamos todo antes de gastar dinero.
Before, we used to compare everything before spending money.
nosotros
Ellas comparaban las telas para el vestido.
They were comparing the fabrics for the dress.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'comparábamos' without the accent.
Correct: comparábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the 'nosotros' form on the third-to-last syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: comparo
The present tense of comparar is regular: comparo, comparas, compara, comparamos, comparáis, comparan.
Preterite
yo: comparé
The preterite of comparar is regular: comparé, comparaste, comparó, comparamos, comparasteis, compararon.
Future
yo: compararé
The future of comparar is formed by adding -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the infinitive.
Conditional
yo: compararía
The conditional of comparar uses the infinitive plus -ía endings: compararía, compararías, compararía.
Present Subjunctive
yo: compare
The present subjunctive of comparar swaps the 'a' for 'e': compare, compares, compare, comparemos, comparéis, comparen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: comparara
The imperfect subjunctive of comparar stems from the preterite 'ellos' form: comparara, compararas, comparara.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: compara
The imperative of comparar provides direct commands: compara (tú), comparad (vosotros), compare (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no compares
The negative imperative of comparar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms.