desatar Imperfect Conjugation
desatar — to untie
The imperfect of desatar (desataba, desatabas, desataba, desatábamos, desatabais, desataban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
desatar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'desatar' for actions that were happening over a period of time in the past, or for habitual actions. For example, 'Cuando era niño, desataba los cordones de mis zapatos' (When I was a child, I used to untie my shoelaces) or 'El nudo se desataba solo' (The knot was untying itself / kept untying itself).
Notes on desatar in the Imperfect
Desatar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo desataba los regalos lentamente.
I was untying the gifts slowly.
yo
Tú siempre desatabas el último nudo del paquete.
You always used to untie the last knot of the package.
tú
Él desataba las cuerdas mientras hablábamos.
He was untying the ropes while we were talking.
él/ella/usted
Ellos desataban los barcos para salir a navegar.
They used to untie the boats to go sailing.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed action.
Correct: Use the preterite 'desaté' for a completed action like 'I untied the knot'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not single completed events.
Mistake: Incorrect 'vosotros' form.
Correct: It's 'desatabais', not 'desatabas'.
Why: The vosotros ending for -ar verbs in the imperfect 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 'desatar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: desato
The present tense of desatar (desato, desatas, desata, desatamos, desatáis, desatan) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: desaté
The preterite of desatar is regular: desaté, desataste, desató, desatamos, desatasteis, desataron, used for completed past actions.
Future
yo: desataré
The future tense of desatar (desataré, desatarás, desatará, desataremos, desataréis, desatarán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: desataría
The conditional of desatar (desataría, desatarías, desataría, desataríamos, desataríais, desatarían) is used for hypotheticals ('would untie') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desate
The present subjunctive of desatar (desate, desates, desatemos, desaten, desatéis) is used after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desatara
The imperfect subjunctive of desatar (desatara/desatase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or to express doubt in the past.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desata
Use 'desata' (tú), 'desate' (usted), 'desatemos' (nosotros), 'desaten' (ustedes), and 'desatad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desates
Use 'no desates' (tú), 'no desate' (usted), 'no desatemos' (nosotros), 'no desaten' (ustedes), and 'no desatéis' (vosotros) for negative commands.