enfriar Imperfect Conjugation
enfriar — to cool
The imperfect of 'enfriar' ('enfriaba', 'enfriabas', 'enfriaba') describes ongoing or habitual cooling in the past.
enfriar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense of 'enfriar' to describe actions or states that were ongoing, habitual, or served as background description in the past. For example, 'El viento enfriaba la playa' (The wind was cooling the beach / The wind used to cool the beach) or 'Cuando era niño, me enfriaba muy rápido' (When I was a child, I used to get cold very quickly).
Notes on enfriar in the Imperfect
The verb 'enfriar' is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
El aire siempre enfriaba la casa en verano.
The air always used to cool the house in summer.
él/ella/usted
Yo me enfriaba fácilmente cuando era joven.
I used to get cold easily when I was young.
yo
Enfriábamos la comida bajo el agua fría.
We were cooling the food under cold water.
nosotros
Ellos enfriaban las botellas en el río.
They were cooling the bottles in the river.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect ('enfriaba') for a single, completed cooling event.
Correct: For a completed event, use the preterite: 'El café se enfrió' (The coffee cooled down). Use imperfect for ongoing or habitual past actions: 'El café siempre se enfriaba rápido' (The coffee always cooled down quickly).
Why: The imperfect describes background or ongoing actions, while the preterite describes completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' imperfect indicative 'enfriábamos' with the imperfect subjunctive 'enfriáramos'.
Correct: Remember that 'enfriábamos' is the indicative (describing facts) and 'enfriáramos' is the subjunctive (used for hypotheticals, wishes, etc.).
Why: Both forms share similar letters and sounds, leading to confusion in usage.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: enfrío
The present tense of 'enfriar' ('enfrío', 'enfrías', 'enfría') describes actions happening now or habitual cooling.
Preterite
yo: enfrié
The preterite of 'enfriar' is regular: 'enfrié', 'enfriaste', 'enfrió', 'enfriamos', 'enfriasteis', 'enfriaron'.
Future
yo: enfriaré
The future tense of 'enfriar' ('enfriaré', 'enfriarás', 'enfriará') indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: enfriaría
The conditional of 'enfriar' ('enfriaría', 'enfriarías', 'enfriaría') is used for hypotheticals ('would cool') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: enfríe
The present subjunctive of 'enfriar' (like 'enfríe' or 'enfríen') is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: enfriara
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'enfriar' (like 'enfriara' or 'enfriase') for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: enfría
Use 'enfriar' imperative for direct commands like 'enfría' (you, informal) or 'enfríe' (you, formal).
Negative Imperative
yo: no enfríes
Negative commands with 'enfriar' use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no enfríes' (you, informal).