cursar Imperfect Conjugation
cursar — to study
Use 'cursaba', 'cursabas', 'cursaba', 'cursábamos', 'cursabais', 'cursaban' for ongoing or habitual past studies.
cursar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense is perfect for describing past situations where studying was ongoing or habitual. Think background details: 'When I was young, I used to study...', or describing a state: 'He was studying medicine for years.'. It sets the scene for past events.
Notes on cursar in the Imperfect
'Cursar' is a regular -ar verb and conjugates normally in the imperfect indicative tense. All forms are standard.
Example Sentences
Yo cursaba estudios clásicos cuando vivía en Madrid.
I used to study classical studies when I lived in Madrid.
yo
¿Tú cursabas muchas materias en esa época?
Were you studying many subjects back then?
tú
Ella cursaba la universidad mientras trabajaba.
She was studying at university while she worked.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros cursábamos francés todos los veranos.
We used to study French every summer.
nosotros
Ellos cursaban el mismo programa desde hacía tiempo.
They had been studying the same program for a long time.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past study event.
Correct: Use the preterite 'cursó' for a completed action, e.g., 'Él cursó un máster'.
Why: Imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not definite endpoints. Preterite is for completed actions.
Mistake: Incorrect conjugation for 'vosotros'.
Correct: The correct form is 'cursabais'.
Why: The 'vosotros' imperfect indicative for -ar verbs ends in -abais.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: curso
Use 'curso', 'cursas', 'cursa', 'cursamos', 'cursáis', 'cursan' for current, habitual, or general studies.
Preterite
yo: cursé
Use 'cursé', 'cursaste', 'cursó', 'cursamos', 'cursasteis', 'cursaron' for completed past studies.
Future
yo: cursaré
Use 'cursaré', 'cursarás', 'cursará', 'cursaremos', 'cursaréis', 'cursarán' for future studies or probability.
Conditional
yo: cursaría
Use 'cursaría', 'cursarías', 'cursaría', 'cursaríamos', 'cursaríais', 'cursarían' for hypothetical or polite study plans.
Present Subjunctive
yo: curse
Use 'curse' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'curses' (tú), 'cursemos' (nosotros), 'cursen' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cursara
Use 'cursara' or 'cursase' for past hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cursa
Use 'cursa' (tú), 'curse' (usted), 'cursemos' (nosotros), 'curen' (ustedes), 'cursad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no curses
Use 'no curses' (tú), 'no curse' (usted), 'no cursemos' (nosotros), 'no cursen' (ustedes), 'no curséis' (vosotros) for negative commands.