desvelar Imperfect Conjugation
desvelar — to reveal
The imperfect 'desvelaba' is used for ongoing or habitual past actions, like 'I used to reveal'.
desvelar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'desvelar' to describe actions that were happening continuously in the past, or that were habitual. It sets the scene or describes background information. For example, 'Cuando era niño, desvelaba secretos a mi hermano' (When I was a child, I used to reveal secrets to my brother) or 'La luna desvelaba sombras en el camino' (The moon revealed shadows on the path).
Notes on desvelar in the Imperfect
Desvelar is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings are standard: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
Example Sentences
Yo desvelaba los secretos de mi amigo.
I used to reveal my friend's secrets.
yo
¿Tú desvelabas pistas en tus historias?
Did you used to reveal clues in your stories?
tú
Él desvelaba la respuesta cada noche.
He would reveal the answer every night.
él/ella/usted
Ellos desvelaban el plan lentamente.
They were revealing the plan slowly.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For completed actions, use the preterite: 'Desveló el misterio' (He revealed the mystery).
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, not single, finished events.
Mistake: Confusing 'desvelaba' (yo) with 'desvelaba' (él/ella/Ud.).
Correct: Both forms are identical, rely on context or explicit pronouns if needed.
Why: This is a common feature of the imperfect tense for -ar verbs, where yo and él/ella/Ud. forms are the same.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: desvelo
The present tense 'desvelo' (yo) / 'desvela' (él/ella/Ud.) is used for current actions and general truths.
Preterite
yo: desvelé
The preterite of desvelar is regular: desvelé, desvelaste, desveló, desvelamos, desvelasteis, desvelaron.
Future
yo: desvelaré
The future tense 'desvelaré' (yo) / 'desvelará' (él/ella/Ud.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: desvelaría
The conditional 'desvelaría' (yo/él/ella/Ud.) expresses hypotheticals like 'would reveal'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desvele
The present subjunctive 'desvele' (yo/él/ella/Ud.) is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desvelara
The imperfect subjunctive, like 'desvelara' or 'desvelase', is used for past hypothetical situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desvela
Use imperative forms like 'desvela' (tú) and 'desvelen' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desveles
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no desveles' (tú) or 'no desvelen' (ustedes).