desestimar Imperfect Conjugation
desestimar — to dismiss
The imperfect of 'desestimar' is regular: desestimaba, desestimabas, desestimaba, desestimábamos, desestimabais, desestimaban.
desestimar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. For 'desestimar', you might say, 'Cuando era joven, desestimaba las opiniones de mis padres' (When I was young, I used to dismiss my parents' opinions), indicating a repeated behavior.
Notes on desestimar in the Imperfect
'Desestimar' is a regular -ar verb, and its imperfect conjugation is standard: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
Example Sentences
Antes, yo desestimaba las críticas constructivas.
Before, I used to dismiss constructive criticism.
yo
Tú desestimabas las advertencias de tu madre.
You were dismissing your mother's warnings.
tú
El profesor desestimaba las preguntas difíciles.
The professor would dismiss difficult questions.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros desestimábamos las malas noticias.
We were dismissing the bad news.
nosotros
Ellos desestimaban la posibilidad de lluvia.
They dismissed the possibility of rain.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('desestimó') instead of the imperfect ('desestimaba') for habitual or ongoing past actions.
Correct: For repeated actions or descriptions, use the imperfect: 'Siempre desestimaba sus consejos'.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions, while the imperfect describes continuous or habitual ones in the past.
Mistake: Getting the accent wrong on 'nosotros' form ('desestimabamos' instead of 'desestimábamos').
Correct: The 'nosotros' form of the imperfect always has an accent on the 'a': 'desestimábamos'.
Why: This accent marks the stress and is consistent across regular -ar and -er/-ir verbs in the imperfect 'nosotros' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: desestimo
The present indicative of 'desestimar' is regular: desestimo, desestimas, desestima, desestimamos, desestimáis, desestiman.
Preterite
yo: desestimé
The preterite of 'desestimar' is regular: desestimé, desestimaste, desestimó, desestimamos, desestimasteis, desestimaron.
Future
yo: desestimaré
The future of 'desestimar' is regular: desestimaré, desestimarás, desestimará, desestimaremos, desestimaréis, desestimarán.
Conditional
yo: desestimaría
The conditional of 'desestimar' is regular: desestimaría, desestimarías, desestimaría, desestimaríamos, desestimaríais, desestimarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desestime
Use 'desestime' (yo/él/ella/usted/ustedes), 'desestimes' (tú), 'desestimemos' (nosotros), 'desestiméis' (vosotros) after wishes, doubts, emotions, and impersonal expressions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desestimara
Use 'desestimara' or 'desestimase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desestima
Use 'desestima' (tú), 'desestime' (usted), 'desestimemos' (nosotros), 'desestimad' (vosotros), 'desestimen' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desestimes
Use 'no desestimes' (tú), 'no desestime' (usted), 'no desestimemos' (nosotros), 'no desestiméis' (vosotros), 'no desestimen' (ustedes) for negative commands.