disputar Imperfect Conjugation
disputar — to compete for
Ongoing or habitual past actions: 'Disputaba' (I used to compete), 'Disputaban' (they used to compete).
disputar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions that were ongoing, habitual, or descriptive in the past. For 'disputar', it could describe a situation like 'They used to argue about everything' or 'The two teams were always competing for the top spot'.
Notes on disputar in the Imperfect
Disputar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando éramos niños, disputábamos quién era el mejor.
When we were kids, we used to argue about who was the best.
nosotros
Él disputaba la propiedad de la tierra con su vecino.
He disputed ownership of the land with his neighbor.
él/ella/usted
Los hermanos disputaban por todo.
The siblings used to argue over everything.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Tú disputabas las reglas del juego?
Did you used to dispute the rules of the game?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single completed action.
Correct: For a specific event like 'They disputed the decision yesterday', use the preterite 'disputaron', not 'disputaban'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, while the preterite marks completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'tú' forms.
Correct: It's 'disputaba' for 'I' and 'disputabas' for 'you' (informal).
Why: These are distinct conjugations for different subjects.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: disputo
Habitual actions or things happening now: 'Yo disputo' (I compete), 'Ellos disputan' (they compete).
Preterite
yo: disputé
Completed past actions: 'Disputé' (I competed), 'Disputó' (he/she/you competed), 'Disputaron' (they competed).
Future
yo: disputaré
Future actions: 'Disputaré' (I will compete), 'Disputarán' (they will compete).
Conditional
yo: disputaría
Hypothetical 'would' actions: 'Disputaría' (I would compete), 'Disputarían' (they would compete).
Present Subjunctive
yo: dispute
Used after wishes, doubts, emotions: 'Espero que disputemos' (I hope we compete), 'Dudo que disputen' (I doubt they compete).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: disputara
Past subjunctive uses like 'si disputara' (if I competed) or 'para que disputaran' (so that they would compete).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: disputa
Commands like 'Disputa!' (you), 'Dispute!' (he/she/you formal), 'Disputemos!' (we), 'Disputad!' (you all, Spain), 'Disputen!' (you all).
Negative Imperative
yo: no disputes
Negative commands like 'No disputes!' (you), 'No dispute!' (he/she/you formal), 'No disputemos!' (we), 'No disputéis!' (you all, Spain), 'No disputen!' (you all).