elaborar Imperfect Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect

Use the imperfect of 'elaborar' for ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or descriptions. For example, 'Cuando era joven, elaboraba maquetas' means 'When I was young, I used to make models.' It sets the scene: 'El sol brillaba mientras ella elaboraba la comida.' means 'The sun was shining while she was making the food.'

Notes on elaborar in the Imperfect

Elaborar is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings are standard for -ar verbs: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.

Example Sentences

• Mi abuela elaboraba conservas cada verano.

  My grandmother used to make preserves every summer.

• Tú elaborabas discursos muy largos.

  You used to make very long speeches.

  tú

• Yo elaboraba informes detallados en mi antiguo trabajo.

  I used to make detailed reports in my old job.

  yo

• Mientras ellos elaboraban el pastel, nosotros poníamos la mesa.

  While they were making the cake, we were setting the table.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

• Vosotros elaborabais planes que nunca se cumplían.

  You all used to make plans that never happened.

  vosotros

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the preterite 'elaboró' instead of the imperfect 'elaboraba' for habitual past actions.

  Correct: Use 'Ella elaboraba postres a menudo' (imperfect) for a repeated action.

  Why: The imperfect describes habits or ongoing situations, while the preterite describes completed events.

• Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.

  Correct: Both are 'elaboraba', but context or subject clarifies who is acting.

  Why: This is a common feature of the imperfect tense for regular verbs, requiring attention to the subject.

Related Tenses