encabezar Imperfect Conjugation
encabezar — to lead
The imperfect of encabezar is regular, using the -aba endings (encabezaba, encabezabas).
encabezar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this to describe ongoing leadership in the past or who 'used to' head a department.
Notes on encabezar in the Imperfect
This verb is fully regular in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Mi abuelo encabezaba la empresa familiar.
My grandfather used to lead the family business.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros encabezábamos la tabla antes de perder.
We were leading the table before losing.
nosotros
Las noticias tristes encabezaban los diarios.
Sad news used to head the newspapers.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing 'encabezaba' (I/he/she) with 'encabezaban' (they).
Correct: Check the context or subject pronoun.
Why: The 'yo' and 'él/ella' forms are identical in the imperfect.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'encabezar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: encabezo
Encabezar is completely regular in the present indicative (encabezo, encabezas, encabeza).
Preterite
yo: encabecé
The preterite of encabezar is regular except for the 'yo' form (encabecé) which changes 'z' to 'c'.
Future
yo: encabezaré
The future of encabezar is regular: add the endings to the full infinitive (encabezaré, encabezarás).
Conditional
yo: encabezaría
The conditional of encabezar is regular: infinitive + -ía endings (encabezaría, encabezarías).
Present Subjunctive
yo: encabece
The present subjunctive of encabezar requires a spelling change from 'z' to 'c' (encabece, encabeces, etc.).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: encabezara
The imperfect subjunctive of encabezar follows the standard -ra pattern (encabezara, encabezaras).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: encabeza
The imperative uses 'encabeza' (tú) and 'encabecen' (ustedes) with a spelling change in most forms.
Negative Imperative
yo: no encabeces
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no encabeces, no encabece.