filtrar Imperfect Conjugation
filtrar — to filter
The imperfect tense of filtrar is regular: filtraba, filtrabas, filtraba, filtrábamos, filtrabais, filtraban.
filtrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense of 'filtrar' to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. For example, 'I used to filter water every day' or 'While he was filtering the coffee, the phone rang'.
Notes on filtrar in the Imperfect
Filtrar is regular in the imperfect tense, following the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo filtraba el correo no deseado cada mañana.
I used to filter the spam every morning.
yo
¿Tú filtrabas la información antes de publicarla?
Did you filter the information before publishing it? (habitual past)
tú
El aparato filtraba el aire constantemente.
The device used to filter the air constantly.
él/ella/usted
Ellos filtraban las fotos para que se vieran mejor.
They used to filter the photos so they would look better.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'filtré' instead of the imperfect 'filtraba' for ongoing past actions.
Correct: Use 'filtraba' for actions that were happening over a period of time or habitually in the past.
Why: The imperfect describes background or continuous actions, not completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the yo and él/ella/usted forms ('filtraba').
Correct: Both 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' use 'filtraba'. Context clarifies who is performing the action.
Why: This is a common feature of the imperfect tense for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: filtro
The present tense of filtrar is regular: filtro, filtras, filtra, filtramos, filtráis, filtran.
Preterite
yo: filtré
Filtrar is regular in the preterite: filtré, filtraste, filtró, filtramos, filtrais, filtraron.
Future
yo: filtraré
The future tense of filtrar is regular: filtraré, filtrarás, filtrará, filtraremos, filtraréis, filtrarán.
Conditional
yo: filtraría
The conditional tense of filtrar is regular: filtraría, filtrarías, filtraría, filtraríamos, filtraríais, filtrarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: filtre
Use 'filtre' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'filtros' (tú), 'filtremos' (nosotros), 'filtren' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) after wishes, doubts, emotions, or impersonal expressions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: filtrara
The imperfect subjunctive of filtrar (e.g., 'filtrara', 'filtraras') is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: filtra
Use 'filtra' (tú), 'filtre' (usted), 'filtremos' (nosotros), 'filtren' (ustedes), 'filtrad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no filtres
Use 'no filtres' (tú), 'no filtre' (usted), 'no filtremos' (nosotros), 'no filtren' (ustedes), 'no filtréis' (vosotros) for negative commands.