desarmar Imperfect Conjugation
desarmar — to take apart
The imperfect of desarmar (desarmaba, desarmabas, desarmaba, desarmábamos, desarmabais, desarmaban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
desarmar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe background actions in the past, habitual actions, or ongoing states. For example, 'When I was a child, I used to take apart old radios' or 'He was dismantling the structure while the alarm sounded'.
Notes on desarmar in the Imperfect
Desarmar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The forms are created by taking the stem 'desarm-' and adding the standard imperfect endings (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban).
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, desarmaba juguetes para ver cómo funcionaban.
When I was a child, I used to take apart toys to see how they worked.
yo
¿Tú desarmabas las maquetas que comprabas?
Did you used to take apart the models you bought?
tú
El técnico desarmaba la máquina lentamente.
The technician was taking apart the machine slowly.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros desarmábamos el campamento cada mañana.
We used to take down the camp every morning.
nosotros
Ellos desarmaban el escenario mientras el público aplaudía.
They were dismantling the stage while the audience applauded.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Correct: For 'I used to take apart toys', use the imperfect: 'Desarmaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes the scene or the routine, not a single completed event like the preterite does.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both yo and él/ella/usted use 'desarmaba'. Context usually clarifies who is performing the action.
Why: These forms are identical, requiring careful attention to the subject pronoun or context.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: desarmo
The present tense of desarmar (desarmo, desarmas, desarma, desarmamos, desarmáis, desarman) is used for current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: desarmé
The preterite of desarmar is regular: desarmé, desarmaste, desarmó, desarmamos, desarmasteis, desarmaron, used for completed past actions.
Future
yo: desarmaré
The future tense of desarmar (desarmaré, desarmarás, desarmará, desarmaremos, desarmaréis, desarmarán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: desarmaría
The conditional of desarmar (desarmaría, desarmarías, desarmaría, desarmaríamos, desarmaríais, desarmarían) expresses hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desarme
The present subjunctive of desarmar (desarme, desarmes, desarmemos, desarméis, desarmen) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desarmara
The imperfect subjunctive of desarmar (desarmara/desarmase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or suggestions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desarma
Use desarma, desarma, desarmemos, desarmad, desarmen for direct commands with desarmar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desarmes
Use no desarmes, no desarme, no desarmemos, no desarméis, no desarmen for negative commands with desarmar.