esperar Imperfect Conjugation
esperar — to wait for
The imperfect of esperar uses standard -aba endings: esperaba, esperabas, esperaba, esperábamos, esperabais, esperaban.
esperar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe an ongoing state of waiting in the past or a habitual expectation. It sets the scene for what was happening when something else occurred.
Notes on esperar in the Imperfect
Esperar is regular in the imperfect. Remember the accent mark on the 'á' in the nosotros form: esperábamos.
Example Sentences
Yo esperaba el autobús cuando empezó a llover.
I was waiting for the bus when it started to rain.
yo
Siempre esperábamos a nuestro abuelo en la estación.
We always used to wait for our grandfather at the station.
nosotros
Ellas esperaban mejores noticias.
They were hoping for better news.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: esperabamos (without accent)
Correct: esperábamos
Why: The nosotros form of all -ar verbs in the imperfect must have a written accent on the first 'a' of the ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: espero
The present tense of esperar is regular: espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan.
Preterite
yo: esperé
The preterite of esperar is regular: esperé, esperaste, esperó, esperamos, esperasteis, esperaron.
Future
yo: esperaré
The future of esperar uses the infinitive as the stem: esperaré, esperarás, esperará, esperaremos, esperaréis, esperarán.
Conditional
yo: esperaría
The conditional of esperar is regular: esperaría, esperarías, esperaría, esperaríamos, esperaríais, esperarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: espere
The present subjunctive of esperar uses -e endings: espere, esperes, espere, esperemos, esperéis, esperen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: esperara
The imperfect subjunctive of esperar is formed from 'esperaron': esperara, esperaras, esperara, esperáramos, esperarais, esperaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: espera
The affirmative imperative of esperar uses: espera (tú), espere (usted), esperemos (nosotros), esperad (vosotros), esperen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no esperes
The negative imperative of esperar uses the present subjunctive: no esperes, no espere, no esperemos, no esperéis, no esperen.