explorar Imperfect Conjugation
explorar — to explore
The imperfect 'exploraba' describes ongoing or habitual past explorations.
explorar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'explorar' to describe actions that were happening over a period of time in the past, habitual actions in the past, or to set the scene.
Notes on explorar in the Imperfect
Explorar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, exploraba el jardín trasero.
When I was a child, I used to explore the backyard.
yo
Tú explorabas la ciudad cada verano.
You explored (used to explore) the city every summer.
tú
Ellos exploraban el terreno en busca de agua.
They were exploring the land in search of water.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras explorábamos, encontramos una cueva.
While we were exploring, we found a cave.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed action in the past.
Correct: For a specific, finished exploration, use the preterite ('exploró'), not the imperfect ('exploraba').
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, while the preterite describes completed ones.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: exploro
The present tense 'exploro' is for actions happening now or habitual explorations.
Preterite
yo: exploré
The preterite of explorar is regular: exploré, exploraste, exploró, exploramos, explorasteis, exploraron.
Future
yo: exploraré
The future tense 'exploraré' indicates future exploration or probability.
Conditional
yo: exploraría
The conditional 'exploraría' expresses 'would explore', polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: explore
The present subjunctive 'explore' is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: explorara
The imperfect subjunctive 'explorara' or 'explorase' is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: explora
Explora, explore, exploremos, explorad, exploren are the imperative commands for exploring.
Negative Imperative
yo: no explores
Negative commands like 'no explores' or 'no exploren' use the present subjunctive.