distanciar Imperfect Conjugation
distanciar — to space out
The imperfect of distanciar is regular: distanciaba, distanciabas, distanciaba, distanciábamos, distanciabais, distanciaban.
distanciar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It sets the scene: 'When I was a child, I used to space out my toys' ('Cuando era niño, distanciaba mis juguetes'). It can also describe conditions or states in the past.
Notes on distanciar in the Imperfect
Distanciar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The forms are created by adding the standard imperfect endings (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban) to the infinitive stem.
Example Sentences
Yo distanciaba mis libros en la estantería.
I used to space my books out on the shelf.
yo
¿Tú te distanciabas de ellos cuando discutían?
Did you used to distance yourself from them when they argued?
tú
Ella distanciaba las sillas para que hubiera más espacio.
She spaced the chairs out so there would be more room.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros distanciábamos los asientos en aquella época.
We used to space out the seats back then.
nosotros
Ellos distanciaban sus carpas en el festival.
They spaced their tents out at the festival.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'distanció' for an ongoing past action.
Correct: Use the imperfect 'distanciaba' for ongoing or habitual past actions: 'Ella distanciaba las sillas'.
Why: The imperfect describes background or repeated actions, while the preterite describes completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms ('distanciaba').
Correct: Both 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' use 'distanciaba'. Context usually clarifies who is acting.
Why: These forms are identical in the imperfect tense for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: distancio
The present tense of distanciar is regular: distancio, distancias, distancia, distanciamos, distanciáis, distancian.
Preterite
yo: distancié
The preterite of distanciar is regular: distancié, distanciaste, distanció, distanciamos, distanciasteis, distanciaron.
Future
yo: distanciaré
The future tense of distanciar is regular: distanciaré, distanciarás, distanciará, etc.
Conditional
yo: distanciaría
The conditional of distanciar is regular: distanciaría, distanciarías, distanciaría, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: distancie
Use 'distancie', 'distancies', 'distanciemos', etc., after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: distanciara
Use 'distanciara' or 'distanciase' for past hypothetical situations or wishes, like 'If I spaced out...'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: distancia
Use 'distancia', 'distancie', 'distanciemos', 'distancien', 'distanciad' for direct commands with 'distanciar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no distancies
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: 'no distancies', 'no distancie', etc.