contestar Imperfect Conjugation
contestar — to answer
Use 'contestaba', 'contestabas', etc., for ongoing or habitual past actions.
contestar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense is used for actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to describe background settings. Think of it as setting the scene or describing habits before a specific point.
Notes on contestar in the Imperfect
Contestar is regular in the imperfect indicative. It follows the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo contestaba todas las cartas que recibía.
I used to answer all the letters I received.
yo
¿Tú contestabas las llamadas de tu madre?
Did you (habitually) answer your mother's calls?
tú
Él contestaba las preguntas del profesor sin dudar.
He would answer the professor's questions without hesitation.
él/ella/usted
Ellos contestaban los mensajes muy rápido.
They were answering the messages very quickly.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'contestó' for a habitual past action.
Correct: For habits or ongoing actions in the past, use the imperfect: 'contestaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes duration or repetition, while the preterite describes a completed event.
Mistake: Confusing 'contestaba' (yo/él/ella/usted) with 'contestabas' (tú).
Correct: Ensure you use the correct ending for the subject: '-aba' for yo/él/ella/usted, and '-abas' for tú.
Why: These are distinct forms for different subjects in the imperfect tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contesto
Use 'contesto', 'contestas', 'contesta' for actions happening now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: contesté
Use 'contesté', 'contestaste', 'contestó' for completed past actions.
Future
yo: contestaré
The future tense 'contestaré', 'contestarás', etc., indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: contestaría
Use 'contestaría', 'contestarías', etc., for hypothetical situations ('would answer').
Present Subjunctive
yo: conteste
Use 'conteste' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'contestes' (tú) for wishes, doubts, or influence.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contestara
Use 'contestara' or 'contestase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contesta
Use 'contesta' (tú) and 'conteste' (usted) for direct commands to answer.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contestes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, like 'no contestes' (tú) or 'no conteste' (usted).