debilitar Imperfect Conjugation
debilitar — to weaken
The imperfect of debilitar (debilitaba, debilitabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
debilitar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe actions that were happening continuously in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. For example, 'El mal tiempo debilitaba las plantas cada invierno' means 'The bad weather used to weaken the plants every winter.'
Notes on debilitar in the Imperfect
Debilitar is a regular -ar verb and conjugates normally in the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, el frío me debilitaba mucho.
When I was young, the cold used to weaken me a lot.
yo
Las largas horas de trabajo debilitaban su ánimo.
The long work hours were weakening his spirit.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Tú te debilitabas con cada entrenamiento?
Were you getting weaker with each training session?
tú
El aburrimiento debilitaba nuestra concentración.
Boredom was weakening our concentration.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect.
Correct: It should be 'El mal tiempo debilitaba las plantas cada invierno', not 'El mal tiempo debilitó...'.
Why: The imperfect describes habitual or ongoing past actions ('used to weaken'), while the preterite implies a single completed event.
Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating the 'vosotros' form.
Correct: The correct form is 'debilitabais', not 'debilitaban'.
Why: The 'vosotros' imperfect ending for -ar verbs is '-abais'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: debilito
The present tense of debilitar (debilitó, debilitas, etc.) describes current actions or general truths.
Preterite
yo: debilité
The preterite of debilitar is regular: debilité, debilitaste, debilitó, debilitamos, debilitasteis, debilitaron.
Future
yo: debilitaré
The future tense of debilitar (debiliré, debilitarás, etc.) is regular and used for future actions or probability.
Conditional
yo: debilitaría
The conditional of debilitar (debilitaía, debilitarías, etc.) is regular and used for hypotheticals ('would') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: debilite
The present subjunctive of debilitar (debilite, debilites, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: debilitara
The imperfect subjunctive of debilitar (e.g., debilitara, debilitase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: debilita
The imperative of debilitar is regular in the affirmative tú form: debilita.
Negative Imperative
yo: no debilites
Negative commands for debilitar use the present subjunctive: no debilites, no debilite, etc.