desertar Imperfect Conjugation
desertar — to desert
The imperfect of desertar (desertaba, desertabas, etc.) describes past habits or ongoing actions of deserting.
desertar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe what someone *used* to do regularly (He used to desert his post) or what was happening over a period of time (He was deserting when the alarm sounded). It sets the scene in the past.
Notes on desertar in the Imperfect
Desertar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The forms are straightforward based on the infinitive.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo desertaba de las clases que no me gustaban.
When I was young, I used to skip classes I didn't like.
yo
Él desertaba su guardia a menudo.
He used to desert his guard duty often.
él/ella/usted
¿Tú desertabas de tus responsabilidades?
Were you deserting your responsibilities?
tú
Ellos desertaban en tiempos de guerra.
They deserted in times of war.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed act of desertion.
Correct: For a specific past event, use the preterite: 'desertó', not 'desertaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not single completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both are 'desertaba', but context clarifies the subject.
Why: These forms are identical, so learners might struggle to differentiate subjects without clear context.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'desertar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: desierto
The present indicative of desertar (desierto, desiertas, etc.) describes someone deserting now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: deserté
The preterite of desertar is regular: deserté, desertaste, desertó, desertamos, desertasteis, desertaron.
Future
yo: desertaré
The future tense of desertar (desertaré, desertarás, etc.) indicates an action that will happen.
Conditional
yo: desertaría
The conditional of desertar (desertaría, desertarías, etc.) is used for hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desierte
The present subjunctive of desertar (desierte, desiertes, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and after certain conjunctions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desertara
The imperfect subjunctive of desertar (desertara, desertaras, etc.) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desierta
The imperative of desertar uses 'desierta' (tú) and 'desierte' (usted) for commands, and 'desertad' for vosotros.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desiertes
Negative commands for desertar use the present subjunctive: no desiertes (tú), no desierte (usted), no desertéis (vosotros).