generar Imperfect Conjugation
generar — to generate
The imperfect of generar is regular: generaba, generabas, generaba, generábamos, generabais, generaban.
generar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, or to set the scene. For 'generar', it could describe a continuous process of creation or a habit of generating things.
Notes on generar in the Imperfect
Generar is regular in the imperfect tense, following the standard -aba endings for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, yo generaba historias fantásticas.
When I was a child, I used to generate fantastic stories.
yo
La fábrica generaba humo constantemente.
The factory was generating smoke constantly.
él/ella/usted
Ellos generaban energía eólica en esa época.
They were generating wind energy back then.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras generábamos el informe, el sistema se cayó.
While we were generating the report, the system crashed.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a completed past action.
Correct: If the action of generating was a single, finished event, use the preterite (e.g., 'generó'). Use the imperfect ('generaba') for ongoing or habitual actions.
Why: Difficulty distinguishing between completed actions (preterite) and background/habitual actions (imperfect).
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect with the present.
Correct: Remember that imperfect is for past actions ('generaba'), while present is for current actions ('genero').
Why: The similar sound or structure might lead to confusion.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: genero
The present tense of generar is regular: genero, generas, genera, generamos, generáis, generan.
Preterite
yo: generé
The preterite of generar is regular: generé, generaste, generó, generamos, generasteis, generaron.
Future
yo: generaré
The future tense of generar is regular: generaré, generarás, generará, generaremos, generaréis, generarán.
Conditional
yo: generaría
The conditional of generar is regular: generaría, generarías, generaría, generaríamos, generaríais, generarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: genere
The present subjunctive of generar (genere) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or impersonal statements.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: generara
The imperfect subjunctive of generar (generara/generase) expresses past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: genera
The imperative of generar is irregular in vosotros (generad) but regular for tú (genera), usted (genere), nosotros (generemos), and ustedes (generen).
Negative Imperative
yo: no generes
Negative commands for generar use the present subjunctive: no generes (tú), no genere (usted), no generemos (nosotros), no generéis (vosotros), no generen (ustedes).