escupir Imperfect Conjugation
escupir — to spit
The imperfect of escupir (escupía, escupías, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual actions of spitting in the past.
escupir Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to set the scene. For example, 'He used to spit seeds all the time' or 'While I was watching the movie, someone spat nearby.'
Notes on escupir in the Imperfect
Escupir is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings follow the standard pattern for -ir verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo escupía las pepitas cuando veía el partido.
I used to spit out the seeds when I watched the game.
yo
Tú escupías en el suelo de niño.
You used to spit on the ground as a child.
tú
Ella escupía el tabaco.
She used to spit out the tobacco.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros escupíamos en el campo.
We used to spit in the field.
nosotros
Ellos escupían al pasar.
They used to spit as they passed.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'escupió' for habitual past actions.
Correct: For past habits like 'He used to spit,' use the imperfect 'escupía'.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions, while the imperfect is for ongoing or repeated past actions.
Mistake: Confusing 'escupíamos' (imperfect) with 'escupimos' (preterite/present).
Correct: Remember the double 'i' in the imperfect 'nosotros' form: 'escupíamos'.
Why: The accent and extra 'i' clearly mark it as the imperfect tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: escupo
The present tense of escupir (escupo, escupes, escupe, etc.) describes habitual actions, things happening now, or general truths about spitting.
Preterite
yo: escupí
The preterite of escupir (escupí, escupiste, escupió, etc.) describes completed actions of spitting in the past.
Future
yo: escupiré
The future tense of escupir (escupiré, escupirás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: escupiría
The conditional of escupir (escupiría, escupirías, etc.) is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: escupa
The present subjunctive of escupir (esculpa, escupas, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: escupiera
The imperfect subjunctive of escupir (escupiera/escupiese) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or softer commands.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: escupe
Use 'escupir' in the imperative for direct commands: escupe (tú), escupa (usted), escupamos (nosotros), escupan (ustedes), escupid (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no escupas
Negative commands for 'escupir' use the present subjunctive: no escupas (tú), no escupa (usted), no escupamos (nosotros), no escupan (ustedes), no escupáis (vosotros).