fusilar Imperfect Conjugation
fusilar — to execute by firing squad
The imperfect 'fusilaba' (yo) to 'fusilaban' (ellos) describes past ongoing or habitual executions.
fusilar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for descriptions in the past, ongoing actions, or repeated habits. For 'fusilar', it could describe a period when executions were common or a background detail in a story.
Notes on fusilar in the Imperfect
Fusilar is regular in the imperfect tense. The conjugation follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
Example Sentences
Cuando gobernaba el tirano, fusilaban a los disidentes cada semana.
When the tyrant ruled, they executed dissidents every week.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mi abuelo me contaba que fusilaban a los soldados rasos por cualquier cosa.
My grandfather told me they used to execute low-ranking soldiers for anything.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Antes, el rey fusilaba a los traidores sin dudar.
Before, the king used to execute traitors without hesitation.
él/ella/usted
Yo fusilaba a los malos en mis historias de niño.
I used to execute the bad guys in my childhood stories.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'fusilaba' for a single, completed past execution.
Correct: For a specific completed action, use the preterite: 'El soldado fusiló al prisionero', not 'El soldado fusilaba al prisionero'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not punctual, completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros imperfect ('fusilábamos') with the nosotros present ('fusilamos').
Correct: Ensure context clarifies whether it's 'we were executing' (imperfect) or 'we execute' (present).
Why: The '-ábamos' ending clearly marks the imperfect, but learners might sometimes drop it or mishear.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: fusilo
The present indicative 'fusilo' (yo) to 'fusilan' (ellos) describes current or habitual executions.
Preterite
yo: fusilé
The preterite 'fusilé' (yo) to 'fusilaron' (ellos) marks completed past executions.
Future
yo: fusilaré
The future 'fusilaré' (yo) to 'fusilarán' (ellos) predicts or states future executions.
Conditional
yo: fusilaría
The conditional 'fusilaría' (yo) to 'fusilarían' (ellos) expresses hypotheticals ('would execute').
Present Subjunctive
yo: fusile
Use present subjunctive 'fusile' (él/ella/usted) or 'fusilen' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) after verbs of doubt, emotion, or desire.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: fusilara
The imperfect subjunctive 'fusilara' or 'fusilase' is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: fusila
Use imperative commands like 'fusila' (tú) or 'fusilen' (ustedes) for direct orders with 'fusilar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no fusiles
Negative commands like 'no fusiles' (tú) or 'no fusilen' (ustedes) use the present subjunctive with 'no'.