exterminar Imperfect Conjugation
exterminar — to exterminate
The imperfect of exterminar (exterminaba, exterminabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of exterminating.
exterminar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe background situations, habitual actions, or ongoing processes in the past related to exterminating. For example, 'When I was young, I used to exterminate ants all the time.'
Notes on exterminar in the Imperfect
Exterminar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All -ar verbs follow the same pattern for the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando vivía allí, yo exterminaba las moscas.
When I lived there, I used to exterminate the flies.
yo
¿Tú exterminabas los pulgones de las rosas?
Were you exterminating the aphids on the roses?
tú
El jardinero exterminaba las malas hierbas cada semana.
The gardener used to exterminate the weeds every week.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros exterminábamos a los mosquitos en verano.
We used to exterminate mosquitoes in the summer.
nosotros
Ellos exterminaban los roedores del almacén.
They were exterminating the rodents in the warehouse.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For a specific completed event, use the preterite: 'Exterminaron la plaga ayer'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not punctual, completed ones.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'nosotros' form.
Correct: The 'nosotros' form is 'exterminábamos', with an accent on the second 'a'.
Why: The accent is necessary for correct pronunciation and to distinguish it from other forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: extermino
The present tense of exterminar (extermino, exterminas, etc.) describes current or habitual actions of exterminating.
Preterite
yo: exterminé
The preterite of exterminar is regular: exterminé, exterminaste, exterminó, exterminamos, exterminasteis, exterminaron.
Future
yo: exterminaré
The future tense of exterminar is regular: exterminaré, exterminarás, exterminará, exterminaremos, exterminaréis, exterminarán.
Conditional
yo: exterminaría
The conditional of exterminar (exterminaría, exterminarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical actions ('would'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: extermine
The present subjunctive of exterminar (extermine, extermines, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: exterminara
The imperfect subjunctive of exterminar (exterminara/exterminase) expresses hypothetical or unlikely past actions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: extermina
Imperative commands for exterminar: extermina (tú), extermine (usted), exterminemos (nosotros), exterminad (vosotros), exterminen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no extermines
Negative commands for exterminar use the present subjunctive: no extermines (tú), no extermine (usted), no exterminemos (nosotros), no exterminéis (vosotros), no exterminen (ustedes).