custodiar Imperfect Conjugation
custodiar — to guard
The imperfect 'custodiaba' (él/ella/usted) or 'custodiaban' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) describes past ongoing or habitual guarding.
custodiar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions of guarding that were ongoing, habitual, or descriptive in the past. It sets the scene or describes what used to happen regularly. For example, 'Cuando era niño, custodiaba el jardín' (When I was a child, I used to guard the garden) or 'El perro custodiaba la casa día y noche' (The dog guarded the house day and night).
Notes on custodiar in the Imperfect
Custodiar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The conjugation follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs: custodiaba, custodiabas, custodiaba, custodiábamos, custodiabais, custodiaban.
Example Sentences
Yo custodiaba la entrada del castillo.
I used to guard the castle entrance.
yo
¿Tú custodiabas el rebaño?
Did you guard the flock?
tú
Ella custodiaba los secretos de la familia.
She guarded the family secrets.
él/ella/usted
Ellos custodiaban el tesoro escondido.
They guarded the hidden treasure.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'custodió' instead of the imperfect 'custodiaba' for ongoing past actions.
Correct: For ongoing or habitual past actions, use 'custodiaba'. For completed actions, use 'custodió'.
Why: The imperfect describes the background or duration, while the preterite marks a specific completed event.
Mistake: Incorrect conjugation for vosotros.
Correct: The correct imperfect form for vosotros is 'custodiabais'.
Why: The imperfect ending for -ar verbs with vosotros is -abais.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'custodiar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: custodio
The present tense 'custodio' (yo) or 'custodian' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) describes current or habitual guarding actions.
Preterite
yo: custodié
The preterite of custodiar is regular: custodié, custodiaron, custodió, custodiaste.
Future
yo: custodiaré
The future tense 'custodiaré' (yo) or 'custodiarán' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) indicates future guarding actions.
Conditional
yo: custodiaría
The conditional 'custodiaría' (yo) expresses hypothetical guarding or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: custodie
The present subjunctive 'custodie' (él/ella/usted) or 'custodies' (tú) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: custodiara
The imperfect subjunctive (custodiara/custodiase) expresses hypothetical past actions or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: custodia
Use the imperative 'custodia' (tú) and 'custodie' (usted) for direct commands to guard.
Negative Imperative
yo: no custodies
Use 'no' with the present subjunctive, like 'no custodies' (tú) or 'no custodie' (usted), for negative commands.