detestar Imperfect Conjugation
detestar — to detest
The imperfect of detestar is regular: detestaba, detestabas, detestaba, detestábamos, detestabais, detestaban.
detestar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a habitual hatred you had in the past, such as something you couldn't stand when you were a child.
Notes on detestar in the Imperfect
Detestar is regular in the imperfect. Remember the accent on the 'nosotros' form: detestábamos.
Example Sentences
De niño, yo detestaba comer brócoli.
As a child, I detested eating broccoli.
yo
Antes, nosotros detestábamos viajar en autobús.
Before, we detested traveling by bus.
nosotros
Tú detestabas el ruido de la ciudad.
You used to detest the city noise.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'detestía' instead of 'detestaba'.
Correct: detestaba
Why: -ar verbs always use -aba endings in the imperfect, never -ía.
Master Spanish verbs in context
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: detesto
The present tense of detestar is regular: detesto, detestas, detesta, detestamos, detestáis, detestan.
Preterite
yo: detesté
The preterite of detestar is regular: detesté, detestaste, detestó, detestamos, detestasteis, detestaron.
Future
yo: detestaré
The future of detestar is regular: detestaré, detestarás, detestará, detestaremos, detestaréis, detestarán.
Conditional
yo: detestaría
The conditional of detestar is regular: detestaría, detestarías, detestaría, detestaríamos, detestaríais, detestarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: deteste
The present subjunctive of detestar is regular: deteste, detestes, deteste, detestemos, detestéis, detesten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: detestara
The imperfect subjunctive of detestar is regular: detestara, detestaras, detestara, detestáramos, detestarais, detestaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: detesta
The affirmative imperative of detestar uses detesta (tú) and detestad (vosotros), with other forms matching the subjunctive.
Negative Imperative
yo: no detestes
The negative imperative of detestar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms: no detestes, no deteste, etc.