coquetear Imperfect Conjugation
coquetear — to flirt
The imperfect of coquetear is regular: coqueteaba, coqueteabas, coqueteaba, coqueteábamos, coqueteabais, coqueteaban.
coquetear Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe habitual or ongoing actions in the past, or to set the scene. For 'coquetear,' this means describing someone who used to flirt a lot ('Él coqueteaba con todas'), or what was happening while someone else flirted ('Mientras tú coqueteabas, yo leía').
Notes on coquetear in the Imperfect
Coquetear is regular in the imperfect tense. The forms are straightforward, ending in -aba for most persons and -ábamos for nosotros.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo coqueteaba mucho.
When I was young, I used to flirt a lot.
yo
Tú coqueteabas con todas las chicas del bar.
You were flirting with all the girls at the bar.
tú
Ella coqueteaba mientras hablaba por teléfono.
She was flirting while talking on the phone.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros coqueteábamos cuando nos conocimos.
We were flirting when we met.
nosotros
Ellos coqueteaban en cada fiesta.
They used to flirt at every party.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for habitual past actions.
Correct: Use the imperfect: 'Ella coqueteaba mucho'.
Why: The imperfect describes repeated or ongoing actions in the past, not single completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'coqueteaba' with the imperfect subjunctive 'coqueteara'.
Correct: Remember the imperfect indicative ends in -aba/-ábamos, while the imperfect subjunctive ends in -ara/-áramos.
Why: They have different uses: imperfect indicative for past descriptions/habits, imperfect subjunctive for past hypotheticals/wishes.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: coqueteo
The present tense of coquetear is regular: coqueteo, coqueteas, coquetea, coqueteamos, coqueteáis, coquetean.
Preterite
yo: coqueteé
The preterite of coquetear is regular: coqueteé, coqueteaste, coqueteó, coqueteamos, coqueteasteis, coquetearon.
Future
yo: coquetearé
The future tense of coquetear is regular: coquetearé, coquetearás, coqueteará, coquetearemos, coquetearéis, coquetearán.
Conditional
yo: coquetearía
The conditional of coquetear is regular: coquetearía, coquetearías, coquetearía, coquetearíamos, coquetearíais, coquetearían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: coquetee
The present subjunctive of coquetear (coquetee, coquees, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: coqueteara
The imperfect subjunctive of coquetear (coqueteara, coquetearas, etc.) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: coquetea
The imperative of coquetear has regular forms like 'coquetea' (tú) and 'coquetee' (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no coquetees
Negative commands for coquetear use the present subjunctive: 'no coquetees' (tú), 'no coquetee' (usted).