fomentar Imperfect Conjugation
fomentar — to promote
Fomentaba, fomentabas, fomentaba, fomentábamos, fomentabais, fomentaban describe ongoing or habitual past promotion.
fomentar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe actions of promoting that were ongoing, habitual, or set the scene in the past. It answers 'what used to happen?' or 'what was happening?'.
Notes on fomentar in the Imperfect
Fomentar is a regular -ar verb and conjugates regularly in the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo fomentaba eventos culturales.
When I was young, I used to promote cultural events.
yo
Tú fomentabas la lectura en la escuela.
You promoted reading at school (habitually).
tú
El profesor fomentaba la participación en clase.
The teacher encouraged participation in class (habitually).
él/ella/usted
Nosotros fomentábamos la buena vecindad.
We promoted good neighborliness (habitually).
nosotros
Ellos fomentaban el deporte amateur.
They promoted amateur sports (habitually).
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'fomentó' for a past habit.
Correct: Use the imperfect 'fomentaba' for past habits or ongoing actions.
Why: The imperfect describes continuous or repeated actions in the past, while the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing 'fomentaba' (yo/él/ella/usted) with other forms.
Correct: Ensure the correct imperfect endings are used: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
Why: These endings are consistent for regular -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: fomento
Fomento, fomentas, fomenta, fomentamos, fomentáis, fomentan are the present indicative forms for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: fomenté
Fomenté, fomentaste, fomentó, fomentamos, fomentasteis, fomentaron are the regular preterite forms for completed past actions.
Future
yo: fomentaré
Fomentaré, fomentarás, fomentará, fomentaremos, fomentaréis, fomentarán are the future tense forms for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: fomentaría
Fomentaría, fomentarías, fomentaría, fomentaríamos, fomentaríais, fomentarían express hypothetical promotion ('would promote').
Present Subjunctive
yo: fomente
Fomente, fomentemos, fomenten are the present subjunctive forms used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: fomentara
The imperfect subjunctive forms like fomentara or fomentase express hypothetical past situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: fomenta
Fomenta, fomente, fomentemos, fomentad, fomenten are the imperative forms to use for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no fomentes
No fomentes, no fomente, no fomentemos, no fomentéis, no fomenten are the negative commands using the present subjunctive.