complementar Imperfect Conjugation
complementar — to complement
The imperfect of complementar is regular: complementaba, complementabas, complementaba, complementábamos, complementabais, complementaban.
complementar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense of 'complementar' to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. It paints a picture of what *used to* happen or what was happening.
Notes on complementar in the Imperfect
Complementar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The stem 'complement-' takes the standard imperfect endings for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo complementaba mi sueldo con trabajos extra.
When I was young, I used to complement my salary with extra jobs.
yo
Tú siempre complementabas la conversación con anécdotas divertidas.
You always complemented the conversation with funny anecdotes.
tú
Ella complementaba su dieta con vitaminas.
She complemented her diet with vitamins.
él/ella/usted
Ellos complementaban el paisaje con sus coloridas casas.
They complemented the landscape with their colorful houses.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for descriptions or habits.
Correct: For ongoing or habitual past actions, use the imperfect: 'complementaba', 'complementaban'.
Why: The imperfect describes the background or duration of past actions, not a single completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros form 'complementábamos' with the yo/él/ella/usted form 'complementaba'.
Correct: Ensure you use the correct ending: '-ábamos' for 'nosotros' and '-aba' for 'yo/él/ella/usted'.
Why: These are distinct endings for different subject pronouns.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: complemento
The present tense of complementar is regular: complemento, complementas, complementa, complementamos, complementáis, complementan.
Preterite
yo: complementé
The preterite of complementar is regular: complementé, complementaste, complementó, complementamos, complementasteis, complementaron.
Future
yo: complementaré
The future tense of complementar is regular: complementaré, complementarás, complementará, complementaremos, complementaréis, complementarán.
Conditional
yo: complementaría
The conditional of complementar is regular: complementaría, complementarías, complementaría, complementaríamos, complementaríais, complementarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: complemente
Use present subjunctive forms like 'complemente' (yo/él/ella/usted) after expressions of doubt or desire.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: complementara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'complementara' or 'complementase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: complementa
Use imperative forms like 'complementa' (tú) and 'complemente' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no complementes
Negative commands like 'no complementes' (tú) use the present subjunctive with 'no'.