contaminar Imperfect Conjugation
contaminar — to pollute
The imperfect of contaminar (contaminaba, contaminabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual pollution in the past.
contaminar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe situations where pollution was happening continuously in the past, or was a regular occurrence. It sets the scene or describes background conditions.
Notes on contaminar in the Imperfect
Contaminar is regular in the imperfect tense, following the standard -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban pattern.
Example Sentences
Antes, la fábrica contaminaba el río todos los días.
Before, the factory polluted the river every day.
él/ella/usted
Cuando era niño, yo no sabía que contaminaba al tirar pilas a la basura.
When I was a child, I didn't know I was polluting by throwing batteries in the trash.
yo
Los barcos contaminaban mucho el océano en esa época.
The ships polluted the ocean a lot back then.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Vosotros contaminabais el aire sin daros cuenta.
You all were polluting the air without realizing it.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for ongoing past actions.
Correct: For actions that were happening over a period or were habitual, use the imperfect: 'Contaminaba', not 'Contaminó'.
Why: The imperfect describes duration or repetition in the past, while the preterite marks a specific, completed event.
Mistake: Confusing 'nosotros' imperfect with preterite.
Correct: The imperfect 'contaminábamos' is different from the preterite 'contaminamos'.
Why: The '-ábamos' ending clearly marks the imperfect tense for ongoing past actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contamino
The present indicative of contaminar (contamino, contaminas, etc.) describes current or habitual pollution.
Preterite
yo: contaminé
The preterite of contaminar is regular: contaminé, contaminaste, contaminó, contaminamos, contaminasteis, contaminaron.
Future
yo: contaminaré
The future tense of contaminar (contaminaré, contaminarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: contaminaría
The conditional of contaminar (contaminaría, contaminarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical outcomes ('would pollute').
Present Subjunctive
yo: contamine
The present subjunctive of contaminar (contamine, contamines, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contaminara
The imperfect subjunctive of contaminar (contaminara/contaminase) expresses hypothetical or past subjunctive situations.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contamina
Use the imperative of contaminar for direct commands like 'contamina' (tú) or 'contaminen' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no contamines
Negative commands for contaminar use the present subjunctive, like 'no contamines' (tú) or 'no contaminen' (ustedes).