formar Imperfect Conjugation
formar — to form
The imperfect of formar is regular: formaba, formabas, formaba, formábamos, formabais, formaban.
formar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe ongoing or habitual processes of formation in the past, such as how groups used to be organized or the background state of something being shaped.
Notes on formar in the Imperfect
Formar is completely regular in the imperfect. Remember to add an accent only to the 'nosotros' form (formábamos).
Example Sentences
En la escuela, siempre formábamos una fila antes de entrar.
In school, we always used to form a line before entering.
nosotros
El equipo se formaba con los mejores jugadores del barrio.
The team was formed with the best players from the neighborhood.
él/ella/usted
Las nubes formaban figuras extrañas en el cielo.
The clouds were forming strange shapes in the sky.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'formía' instead of 'formaba'.
Correct: formaba
Why: Learners often confuse -ar and -er/-ir endings in the imperfect; -ar verbs always use -aba.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: formo
The present of formar is regular: formo, formas, forma, formamos, formáis, forman.
Preterite
yo: formé
The preterite of formar is regular: formé, formaste, formó, formamos, formasteis, formaron.
Future
yo: formaré
The future of formar is regular: formaré, formarás, formará, formaremos, formaréis, formarán.
Conditional
yo: formaría
The conditional of formar is regular: formaría, formarías, formaría, formaríamos, formaríais, formarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: forme
The present subjunctive of formar is regular: forme, formes, forme, formemos, forméis, formen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: formara
The imperfect subjunctive of formar is regular: formara, formaras, formara, formáramos, formarais, formaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: forma
The affirmative imperative of formar is: forma (tú), forme (usted), formemos (nosotros), formad (vosotros), formen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no formes
The negative imperative of formar uses present subjunctive forms: no formes, no forme, no formemos, no forméis, no formen.