cooperar Imperfect Conjugation
cooperar — to cooperate
The imperfect of cooperar (cooperaba, cooperabas, etc.) describes past habits or ongoing actions.
cooperar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for ongoing actions in the past ('I was cooperating') or repeated/habitual actions ('I used to cooperate'). It sets the scene or describes background conditions in the past, without focusing on a specific start or end.
Notes on cooperar in the Imperfect
Cooperar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms are derived by adding the standard imperfect endings to the verb stem.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, cooperaba mucho con mi hermana.
When I was a child, I used to cooperate a lot with my sister.
yo
Tú cooperabas en todas las actividades escolares.
You were cooperating in all the school activities.
tú
Ellos cooperaban para mantener el orden.
They were cooperating to maintain order.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras tú estudiabas, nosotros cooperábamos en el proyecto.
While you studied, we were cooperating on the project.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('cooperé') for a past habit or ongoing action.
Correct: For past habits or ongoing actions, use the imperfect 'cooperaba', 'cooperabas', etc.
Why: The preterite describes completed actions, while the imperfect describes the background or duration.
Mistake: Confusing the 'vosotros' form 'cooperabais' with other forms.
Correct: Ensure the 'vosotros' form is 'cooperabais'.
Why: This ending is specific to the 'vosotros' person in the imperfect tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: coopero
The present tense of cooperar (coopero, cooperas, etc.) means 'I cooperate', 'you cooperate', etc., used for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: cooperé
The preterite of cooperar is regular: cooperé, cooperaste, cooperó, cooperamos, cooperasteis, cooperaron.
Future
yo: cooperaré
The future tense of cooperar (cooperaré, cooperarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cooperaría
The conditional of cooperar (cooperaría, cooperarías, etc.) expresses 'would' cooperate or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: coopere
The present subjunctive of cooperar (coopere, cooperes, etc.) is used after expressions of desire, doubt, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cooperara
The imperfect subjunctive of cooperar (cooperara, cooperaras, etc.) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: coopera
Imperative commands for cooperar: coopera (tú), coopere (usted), cooperemos (nosotros), cooperen (ustedes), cooperad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no cooperes
Negative commands for cooperar use the present subjunctive after 'no'.