editar Imperfect Conjugation
editar — to edit
The imperfect of editar (editaba, editabas, editaba, editábamos, editabais, editaban) describes ongoing or habitual past editing.
editar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions of editing that were ongoing in the past, habitual actions of editing, or to set the scene in a past narrative. It describes the background.
Notes on editar in the Imperfect
Editar is regular in the imperfect tense. The forms are made by taking the infinitive stem ('edit-') and adding the imperfect endings (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban).
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, editaba fotos todo el tiempo.
When I was young, I used to edit photos all the time.
yo
¿Tú editabas el boletín de la escuela?
Did you used to edit the school newsletter?
tú
Él editaba el programa de radio cada día.
He edited/used to edit the radio show every day.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros editábamos la revista de la universidad.
We edited/used to edit the university magazine.
nosotros
Ellas editaban los documentos mientras hablábamos.
They were editing the documents while we were talking.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'editó' for a background description.
Correct: Use 'editaba' to describe what was happening or habitually done.
Why: The imperfect sets the scene or describes ongoing past actions, not completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'editábamos' with the preterite 'editamos'.
Correct: 'Editábamos' implies ongoing or habitual action, 'editamos' is a completed action.
Why: The endings differ (-ábamos vs -amos) and convey different meanings about the past action.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: edito
The present indicative of editar (edito, editas, edita, editamos, editáis, editan) describes current or habitual editing.
Preterite
yo: edité
The preterite of editar is regular: edité, editaste, editó, editamos, editasteis, editaron, for completed actions.
Future
yo: editaré
The future tense of editar (editaré, editarás, editará, editaremos, editaréis, editarán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: editaría
The conditional of editar (editaría, editarías, editaría, editaríamos, editaríais, editarían) expresses 'would' actions or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: edite
The present subjunctive of editar (edite, edites, edite, editemos, editéis, editen) expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: editara
The imperfect subjunctive of editar (editara, editaras, editara, editáramos, editarais, editaran) is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: edita
Use the imperative of editar to give direct commands: edita, edite, editemos, editen, editad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no edites
Form negative commands for editar using 'no' + present subjunctive: no edites, no edite, no editemos, no editen, no editéis.