diferenciar Imperfect Conjugation
diferenciar — to distinguish
The imperfect of diferenciar uses standard -aba endings: diferenciaba, diferenciabas, diferenciaba, diferenciábamos, diferenciabais, diferenciaban.
diferenciar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a past state of being able to tell things apart, or a habitual action where you used to distinguish between things over time.
Notes on diferenciar in the Imperfect
Diferenciar is regular in the imperfect. Only the 'nosotros' form requires a written accent on the first 'a' of the ending.
Example Sentences
De niño, yo no diferenciaba la derecha de la izquierda.
As a child, I didn't distinguish right from left.
yo
Ustedes diferenciaban muy bien los estilos de arte.
You all used to distinguish art styles very well.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros diferenciábamos las especies por sus hojas.
We used to distinguish the species by their leaves.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: diferenciabamos
Correct: diferenciábamos
Why: The 'nosotros' form in the imperfect always requires an accent on the 'a' of the -ábamos ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: diferencio
Diferenciar is regular in the present tense: diferencio, diferencias, diferencia, diferenciamos, diferenciáis, diferencian.
Preterite
yo: diferencié
The preterite of diferenciar is regular: diferencié, diferenciaste, diferenció, diferenciamos, diferenciasteis, diferenciaron.
Future
yo: diferenciaré
For the future tense of diferenciar, add the endings to the infinitive: diferenciaré, diferenciarás, diferenciará, etc.
Conditional
yo: diferenciaría
The conditional of diferenciar is formed by adding -ía endings to the infinitive: diferenciaría, diferenciarías, diferenciaría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: diferencie
The present subjunctive of diferenciar changes the 'a' to 'e': diferencie, diferencies, diferencie, diferenciemos, diferenciéis, diferencien.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: diferenciara
The imperfect subjunctive of diferenciar uses the preterite stem 'diferenci-': diferenciara, diferenciaras, diferenciara.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: diferencia
The imperative of diferenciar gives commands: diferencia (tú), diferenciad (vosotros), or diferencie (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no diferencies
The negative imperative of diferenciar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no diferencies, no diferencie.