esposar Imperfect Conjugation
esposar — to handcuff
The imperfect of esposar (esposaba, esposabas) describes past ongoing actions or descriptions.
esposar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'esposar' to describe habitual actions in the past ('He used to handcuff everyone') or to set the scene in a past narrative ('The guards were handcuffing the prisoners when the alarm went off').
Notes on esposar in the Imperfect
Esposar is regular in the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, el guardia a veces esposaba a los niños traviesos.
When he was young, the guard sometimes used to handcuff naughty children.
él/ella/usted
Mientras el oficial esposaba al sospechoso, su compañero buscaba pruebas.
While the officer was handcuffing the suspect, his partner looked for evidence.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros esposábamos a los prisioneros cada noche.
We used to handcuff the prisoners every night.
nosotros
Tú me esposabas con frecuencia cuando éramos niños y jugábamos a policías.
You used to handcuff me frequently when we were kids and played cops.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'esposaba' for a single, completed action in the past.
Correct: For a specific, finished action, use the preterite: 'El policía esposó al ladrón'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing, habitual, or descriptive actions in the past, not discrete events.
Mistake: Confusing 'esposábamos' (imperfect) with 'esposamos' (preterite/present).
Correct: Remember the double 'b' in the imperfect: 'esposábamos'.
Why: The double 'b' is the defining characteristic of the imperfect tense for -ar verbs and distinguishes it from the preterite and present tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: esposo
The present tense of esposar (esposo, esposas, esposa) describes actions happening now or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: esposé
The preterite of esposar is regular: esposé, esposaste, esposó, esposamos, esposasteis, esposaron.
Future
yo: esposaré
The future tense of esposar (esposaré, esposarás) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: esposaría
The conditional of esposar (esposaría, esposarías) expresses hypothetical actions ('would handcuff').
Present Subjunctive
yo: espose
The present subjunctive of esposar (espose, esposes, esposemos) is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: esposara
The imperfect subjunctive of esposar (esposara/esposase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: esposa
Use the imperative of esposar for direct commands like 'esposa' (you, informal) or 'esposen' (you all).
Negative Imperative
yo: no esposes
Negative commands for esposar use the present subjunctive with 'no', like 'no esposes' (don't you handcuff).