figurar Imperfect Conjugation
figurar — to appear
The imperfect of figurar (figuraba, figurabas, figuraba) describes past appearances that were ongoing or habitual.
figurar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a past situation where something habitually appeared, or was in the process of appearing, without a specific start or end. Think of background details in a story.
Notes on figurar in the Imperfect
Figurar is regular in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Su nombre figuraba en todos los documentos importantes.
His name appeared on all the important documents.
él/ella/usted
Antes, mi foto figuraba en la página principal.
Before, my photo used to appear on the main page.
él/ella/usted
Ellos figuraban en la lista de los más buscados.
They used to appear on the list of the most wanted.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras yo figuraba en la escena, él se escondió.
While I was appearing on the scene, he hid.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect ('figuraba') for a single, completed past appearance.
Correct: For a specific instance of something appearing in the past, use the preterite: 'figuró'. Use imperfect for ongoing or repeated actions: 'figuraba'.
Why: Imperfect describes background or habitual actions, while preterite describes completed events.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: figuro
The present tense of figurar (figuro, figuras, figura) means 'to appear' or 'to be listed' right now.
Preterite
yo: figuré
The preterite of figurar is regular: figuré, figuraste, figuró, figuramos, figurasteis, figuraron.
Future
yo: figuraré
The future tense of figurar (figuraé, figuraás, figuraá) indicates something will appear or be listed in the future.
Conditional
yo: figuraría
The conditional of figurar (figuraía, figuraías, figuraía) suggests something would appear or expresses polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: figure
The present subjunctive of figurar (figure, figures, figuremos) expresses wishes, doubts, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: figurara
The imperfect subjunctive of figurar (e.g., figurara, figuraras, figurase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: figura
Commands in the imperative for figurar include: figura (tú), figure (usted), figuremos (nosotros), figurad (vosotros), figuren (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no figures
Negative commands for figurar use the present subjunctive: no figures (tú), no figure (usted), no figuremos (nosotros), no figuréis (vosotros), no figuren (ustedes).