emplear Imperfect Conjugation
emplear — to use
The imperfect of emplear (empleaba, empleabas...) describes past habits or ongoing situations.
emplear Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for actions that were happening continuously in the past, or for habitual actions. Think of background descriptions or routines.
Notes on emplear in the Imperfect
Emplear is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban are added to the stem 'emple-'.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, empleaba mucho tiempo estudiando.
When I was young, I used to spend a lot of time studying.
yo
¿Tú empleabas ese libro para la clase?
Did you use that book for the class (habitually)?
tú
Mi abuela empleaba ingredientes frescos para sus recetas.
My grandmother used fresh ingredients for her recipes.
él/ella/usted
Antes, ellos empleaban caballos para el transporte.
Before, they used horses for transportation.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros empleábamos este método todos los días.
We used this method every day.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For a completed action, use the preterite: 'Empleé la herramienta ayer.'
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not punctual, completed events.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'b' in the endings: 'empleaba' vs 'empleaba'.
Correct: The stem for -ar verbs in the imperfect is always formed with '-aba-'.
Why: The '-aba-' is the characteristic ending for the imperfect of regular -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: empleo
The present tense of emplear (empleo, empleas, emplea...) is used for current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: empleé
The preterite of emplear is regular: empleé, empleaste, empleó, empleamos, empleasteis, emplearon.
Future
yo: emplearé
The future tense of emplear (emplearé, emplearás...) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: emplearía
The conditional of emplear (emplearía, emplearías...) expresses hypotheticals, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: emplee
The present subjunctive of emplear (emplee, emplees, empleemos, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: empleara
The imperfect subjunctive of emplear (empleara/emplease) expresses past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: emplea
Use the imperative of emplear for direct commands: ¡emplea!, ¡emplee!, ¡empleemos!, ¡empleen!, ¡emplead!
Negative Imperative
yo: no emplees
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: ¡no emplees!, ¡no emplee!, ¡no empleemos!, ¡no empleen!, ¡no empleéis!