estropear Imperfect Conjugation
estropear — to damage or break
Imperfect estropeaba, estropeabas describes ongoing or habitual past actions: 'Antes estropeaba mis juguetes' (I used to break my toys).
estropear Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'estropear' to describe actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or set the scene. For example, 'Cuando era niño, estropeaba todos mis lápices' (When I was a child, I used to break all my pencils) talks about a past habit.
Notes on estropear in the Imperfect
Estropear is regular in the imperfect indicative. The stem 'estrope-' is followed by the standard imperfect endings for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo estropeaba el coche cada vez que lo conducía.
I used to ruin the car every time I drove it.
yo
Tú estropeabas la comida sin querer.
You would accidentally spoil the food.
tú
Mi hermano estropeaba mis cosas cuando éramos pequeños.
My brother used to break my things when we were little.
él/ella/usted
Ellos estropeaban las plantas del jardín.
They were damaging the garden plants.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single completed action in the past.
Correct: For a specific event like 'He broke the vase', use the preterite 'Él estropeó el jarrón', not 'Él estropeaba el jarrón'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not single, completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing 'estropeábamos' (imperfect nosotros) with 'estropeamos' (present/preterite nosotros).
Correct: Pay attention to context to differentiate these forms.
Why: The 'aba' ending clearly marks the imperfect tense for nosotros.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: estropeo
Present estropeo, estropeas, etc. describes current actions or habits: 'Yo estropeo las plantas si no las riego' (I ruin the plants if I don't water them).
Preterite
yo: estropeé
The preterite of estropear is regular: estropeé, estropeaste, estropeó, estropeamos, estropeasteis, estropearon.
Future
yo: estropearé
Future estropearé, estropearás predicts or assumes something will break: 'El vaso se estropeará' (The glass will break).
Conditional
yo: estropearía
Conditional estropearía, estropearías expresses hypotheticals ('would break'): 'Si tuviera dinero, no estropearía el coche' (If I had money, I wouldn't break the car).
Present Subjunctive
yo: estropee
Use present subjunctive estropee, estropeen etc. for wishes, doubts, and emotions: 'Espero que no estropees nada' (I hope you don't break anything).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estropeara
Use imperfect subjunctive estropeara/estropéara for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'Si estropeara...' (If I were to break...)
Affirmative Imperative
yo: estropea
Use imperative estropea, estropee, etc. for direct commands, like '¡Estropea el vaso!' (Break the glass!).
Negative Imperative
yo: no estropees
Negative commands use 'no' plus present subjunctive: 'no estropees' (don't break).