escalar Imperfect Conjugation
escalar — to climb
The imperfect 'escalaba' describes ongoing or habitual past climbing, or sets the scene.
escalar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for describing past climbing that was in progress ('Yo escalaba cuando empezó a llover'), or something you used to do regularly ('Ella escalaba cada verano'). It also sets the background.
Notes on escalar in the Imperfect
Escalar is a regular -ar verb and is completely regular in the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, escalaba todas las semanas.
When I was young, I climbed every week.
yo
¿Tú escalabas mucho en tu infancia?
Did you use to climb a lot in your childhood?
tú
Él escalaba árboles mientras esperaba.
He was climbing trees while he waited.
él/ella/usted
Ellos escalaban la montaña cuando la tormenta llegó.
They were climbing the mountain when the storm arrived.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'escalaba' for a single, completed climb.
Correct: Use the preterite for completed actions: 'Yo escalé la roca'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, not a single finished event.
Mistake: Confusing 'escalábamos' (nosotros) with 'escalabais' (vosotros).
Correct: 'Escalábamos' is 'we', 'escalabais' is 'you all (Spain)'.
Why: These are distinct plural forms and should not be mixed up.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: escalo
The present tense 'escalo' is used for actions happening now, habitual climbs, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: escalé
The preterite of 'escalar' is regular: escalé, escalaste, escaló, escalamos, escalasteis, escalaron, for completed climbs.
Future
yo: escalaré
The future tense 'escalaré' indicates actions that will happen, like 'I will climb'.
Conditional
yo: escalaría
The conditional 'escalaría' expresses 'would' scenarios, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: escale
The present subjunctive 'escale' is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: escalara
The imperfect subjunctive 'escalara' or 'escalase' is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: escala
Use 'escala' for tú commands, 'escale' for usted, and 'escalen' for ustedes to tell someone to climb.
Negative Imperative
yo: no escales
Use 'no escales' for tú, 'no escale' for usted, and 'no escalen' for ustedes to forbid climbing.