fijar Imperfect Conjugation
fijar — to set
The imperfect tense of fijar (fijaba, fijabas, fijaba, fijábamos, fijabais, fijaban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
fijar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe background situations, habitual actions, or ongoing states in the past. For 'fijar', this could mean something like 'Yo fijaba la vista en el mar cada tarde' (I used to fix my gaze on the sea every afternoon) or 'Las reglas fijaban el procedimiento' (The rules established the procedure).
Notes on fijar in the Imperfect
Fijar is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings are standard for -ar verbs in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, fijaba mi atención en las estrellas.
When I was a child, I used to fix my attention on the stars.
yo
¿Tú fijabas tus apuntes con cuidado?
Did you used to fix your notes carefully?
tú
Ella fijaba la mirada en el retrato.
She was fixing her gaze on the portrait.
él/ella/usted
Ellos fijaban la cita para el mismo día cada mes.
They used to set the appointment for the same day each month.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For a completed action, use the preterite: 'Fijó la fecha' (He set the date).
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not specific, completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'fijábamos' (nosotros) with the preterite 'fijamos'.
Correct: 'Fijábamos' is imperfect (we used to fix/were fixing), while 'fijamos' can be present (we fix) or preterite (we fixed).
Why: These forms sound similar but have distinct meanings depending on the tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: fijo
The present tense of fijar (fijo, fijas, fija, fijamos, fijáis, fijan) describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: fijé
The preterite of fijar is regular: fijé, fijaste, fijó, fijamos, fijasteis, fijaron, used for completed past actions.
Future
yo: fijaré
The future tense of fijar (fijaré, fijarás, fijará, fijaremos, fijaréis, fijarán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: fijaría
The conditional of fijar (fijaría, fijarías, fijaría, fijaríamos, fijaríais, fijarían) expresses hypotheticals ('would') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: fije
The present subjunctive of fijar (fije, fijes, fije, fijemos, fijéis, fijen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: fijara
The imperfect subjunctive of fijar (fijara/fijase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: fija
Use the imperative of fijar for direct commands: fija (tú), fije (usted), fijemos (nosotros), fijen (ustedes), fijad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no fijes
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no fijes (tú), no fije (usted), no fijemos (nosotros), no fijen (ustedes), no fijéis (vosotros).