consultar Imperfect Conjugation
consultar — to check
The imperfect of 'consultar' (consultaba, consultabas, consultaba, consultábamos, consultabais, consultaban) describes past ongoing or habitual actions.
consultar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'consultar' for actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to set the scene. For example, 'When I was little, I used to check the map often' or 'He was consulting the book when I arrived'.
Notes on consultar in the Imperfect
Consultar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar imperfect pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo consultaba mi agenda todos los días.
I used to check my calendar every day.
yo
Tú consultabas a tu abuela para pedirle consejo.
You used to consult your grandmother for advice.
tú
El doctor nos consultaba sobre nuestra salud.
The doctor used to consult us about our health.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros consultábamos el mapa constantemente en aquel viaje.
We were constantly checking the map on that trip.
nosotros
Ellos consultaban libros viejos en la biblioteca.
They used to consult old books in the library.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of imperfect: 'Ayer consulté el mapa' (when it was habitual).
Correct: If it was a repeated or ongoing action, use 'Ayer yo consultaba el mapa'.
Why: The imperfect is for ongoing/habitual past actions, the preterite for completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros imperfect with the preterite: 'consultamos'.
Correct: The imperfect nosotros is 'consultábamos' (with accent and -mos). The preterite nosotros is 'consultamos'.
Why: The endings and pronunciation clearly differentiate the tenses.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'consultar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: consulto
The present tense of 'consultar' (consulto, consultas, consulta, consultamos, consultáis, consultan) describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: consulté
The preterite of 'consultar' is regular: consulté, consultaste, consultó, consultamos, consultasteis, consultaron.
Future
yo: consultaré
The future tense of 'consultar' (consultaré, consultarás, consultará, consultaremos, consultaréis, consultarán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: consultaría
The conditional of 'consultar' (consultaría, consultarías, consultaría, consultaríamos, consultaríais, consultarían) is for hypotheticals and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: consulte
The present subjunctive of 'consultar' (consulte, consultes, consultemos, consulten, consultéis) is used for wishes, doubts, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: consultara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'consultar' (consultara/consultase) is for past hypothetical or uncertain situations.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: consulta
The imperative of 'consultar' uses 'consulta', 'consulte', 'consultemos', 'consulten', and 'consultad' for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no consultes
Negative commands for 'consultar' use 'no consultes', 'no consulte', 'no consultemos', 'no consulten', and 'no consultéis'.