gobernar Imperfect Conjugation
gobernar — to govern
Gobernar is regular in the imperfect: gobernaba, gobernabas, gobernaba, gobernábamos, gobernabais, gobernaban.
gobernar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this for describing political climates in the past, ongoing administration, or how things used to be governed habitually.
Notes on gobernar in the Imperfect
Gobernar is regular in the imperfect. Note the accent on the 'nosotros' form (gobernábamos).
Example Sentences
Antes, el alcalde gobernaba sin consultar a nadie.
Before, the mayor used to govern without consulting anyone.
él/ella/usted
En esa época, nosotros gobernábamos con transparencia.
In those times, we were governing with transparency.
nosotros
Las leyes que gobernaban la colonia eran estrictas.
The laws that governed the colony were strict.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: gobernabamos
Correct: gobernábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the 'nosotros' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: gobierno
Gobernar follows a stem change (e to ie) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros: gobierno, gobiernas, gobierna, gobernamos, gobernáis, gobiernan.
Preterite
yo: goberné
Gobernar is completely regular in the preterite: goberné, gobernaste, gobernó, gobernamos, gobernasteis, gobernaron.
Future
yo: gobernaré
The future of gobernar is regular: gobernaré, gobernarás, gobernará, gobernaremos, gobernaréis, gobernarán.
Conditional
yo: gobernaría
The conditional of gobernar is regular: gobernaría, gobernarías, gobernaría, gobernaríamos, gobernaríais, gobernarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: gobierne
The present subjunctive of gobernar follows the 'ie' stem change: gobierne, gobiernes, gobierne, gobernemos, gobernéis, gobiernen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: gobernara
The imperfect subjunctive of gobernar is regular: gobernara, gobernaras, gobernara, gobernáramos, gobernarais, gobernaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: gobierna
The imperative uses the 'ie' stem change for most commands: gobierna (tú), gobierne (usted), gobernad (vosotros), gobiernen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no gobiernes
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no gobiernes (tú), no gobierne (usted), no gobernéis (vosotros), no gobiernen (ustedes).