detonar Imperfect Conjugation
detonar — to detonate
The imperfect 'detonaba' describes ongoing or habitual past actions of detonating.
detonar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'detonar' to describe actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to set the scene. For example, 'The alarm used to detonate every morning' or 'While the timer was counting down, the device detonated'.
Notes on detonar in the Imperfect
Detonar is regular in the imperfect tense, following the standard -ar verb pattern.
Example Sentences
El sistema detonaba cada hora si no lo desactivaban.
The system detonated every hour if they didn't deactivate it.
él/ella/usted
Yo detonaba los petardos durante las fiestas.
I used to detonate firecrackers during the parties.
yo
¿Tú detonabas algo cuando eras niño?
Did you used to detonate things when you were a child?
tú
Ellos detonaban las cargas de forma automática.
They detonated the charges automatically.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect ('detonaba') for a single, completed past action.
Correct: Use the preterite ('detonó') for completed actions.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, while the preterite describes finished ones.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect with the present tense for past habits.
Correct: The imperfect ('detonaba') is specifically for past habits or ongoing actions.
Why: Spanish speakers use the imperfect to paint a picture of the past, including repeated actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: detono
The present tense 'detono', 'detonas', 'detona' describes current actions or general truths about detonating.
Preterite
yo: detoné
The preterite of detonar is regular: detoné, detonaste, detonó, detonamos, detonasteis, detonaron.
Future
yo: detonaré
The future tense 'detonaré', 'detonarás', 'detonará' indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: detonaría
The conditional 'detonaría' expresses hypothetical actions ('would detonate').
Present Subjunctive
yo: detone
The present subjunctive, like 'detone' or 'detones', expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions about current/future events.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: detonara
The imperfect subjunctive, like 'detonara' or 'detonase', is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: detona
Use imperative forms like 'detona' (tú) and 'detone' (usted) for direct commands with detonar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no detones
Negative commands like 'no detones' (tú) and 'no detone' (usted) use the present subjunctive.