estrangular Imperfect Conjugation
estrangular — to strangle
The imperfect 'estrangulaba', 'estrangulabas', etc., describes ongoing or habitual past actions, or sets a scene.
estrangular Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for descriptions, ongoing actions, or habitual activities in the past. If you were describing a scene where something was being strangled, or if someone used to strangle things regularly, this is your tense.
Notes on estrangular in the Imperfect
'Estrangular' is regular in the imperfect tense, following the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
El jardinero estrangulaba las malas hierbas cada semana.
The gardener used to strangle the weeds every week.
él/ella/usted
Cuando era niño, yo estrangulaba las flores que no me gustaban.
When I was a child, I used to strangle the flowers I didn't like.
yo
Tú estrangulabas la conversación con tus quejas.
You were strangling the conversation with your complaints.
tú
Ellos estrangulaban los nuevos proyectos con excusas.
They were strangling the new projects with excuses.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for descriptions or ongoing past actions.
Correct: For background description or habitual actions in the past, use the imperfect: 'Él estrangulaba' (He used to strangle / was strangling), not 'Él estranguló'.
Why: The imperfect sets the scene or describes continuous/repeated past actions, whereas the preterite marks a specific, completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both 'estrangulaba' (yo) and 'estrangulaba' (él/ella/usted) are identical. Context usually clarifies who is acting.
Why: This is a common feature of the imperfect tense for all -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: estrangulo
The present tense 'estrangulo', 'estrangulas', etc., describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: estrangulé
The preterite of 'estrangular' is regular: estrangulé, estrangulaste, estranguló, estrangulamos, estrangulasteis, estrangularon.
Future
yo: estrangularé
The future tense 'estrangularé', 'estrangularás', etc., is used for actions that will happen or to express probability.
Conditional
yo: estrangularía
The conditional 'estrangularía', 'estrangularías', etc., is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: estrangule
The present subjunctive 'estrangule', 'estrangles', etc., is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estrangulara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'estrangular' (estrangulara/estrangularas/etc.) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: estrangula
Commands for 'estrangular' are mostly regular, with tú 'estrangula' and vosotros 'estrangulad' being the most common.
Negative Imperative
yo: no estrangules
Negative commands for 'estrangular' use the present subjunctive with 'no': no estrangules, no estrangule, etc.