hospedar Imperfect Conjugation
hospedar — to host
Use the imperfect of hospedar for ongoing or habitual past actions: 'Hospedaba a muchos turistas.' (I used to host many tourists.)
hospedar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense is used for ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions in the past (what you used to do), or to set the scene. If you frequently hosted people over a period of time, or were in the process of hosting someone, you'd use the imperfect.
Notes on hospedar in the Imperfect
Hospedar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar imperfect conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, hospedaba a mochileros en mi casa.
When I was young, I used to host backpackers in my house.
yo
Ellos hospedaban a la banda en un hotel grande.
They were hosting the band in a big hotel.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Tú hospedabas a tus primos cada verano, ¿no?
You used to host your cousins every summer, right?
tú
Mientras la casa se construía, hospedábamos a los obreros.
While the house was being built, we were hosting the workers.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('hospedó') instead of the imperfect ('hospedaba') for a habitual past action.
Correct: Use 'Antes hospedaba a muchos invitados' (I used to host many guests before), not 'Antes hospedó a muchos invitados'.
Why: The imperfect describes repeated or ongoing actions in the past, while the preterite describes a single, completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros form.
Correct: The imperfect nosotros form is 'hospedábamos', not 'hospedamos' (which is present indicative or preterite).
Why: The ending '-ábamos' is specific to the imperfect tense for nosotros.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: hospedo
Use the present tense of hospedar for current or habitual actions: 'Hospedo a mi primo.' (I host my cousin.)
Preterite
yo: hospedé
Use the preterite of hospedar for completed past actions: 'Hospedamos a la familia ayer.' (We hosted the family yesterday.)
Future
yo: hospedaré
Use the future tense of hospedar for actions that will happen: 'Hospedaré a mi amigo.' (I will host my friend.)
Conditional
yo: hospedaría
Use the conditional of hospedar for hypothetical situations or polite requests: 'Hospedaría a más gente si tuviera espacio.' (I would host more people if I had space.)
Present Subjunctive
yo: hospede
Use 'hospede' for wishes, doubts, or emotions: 'Espero que hospedes bien.' (I hope you host well.)
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: hospedara
Use 'hospedara' or 'hospedase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts, like 'Si hospedara más gente...' (If I hosted more people...).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: hospeda
Use the imperative of hospedar for direct commands like '¡Hospeda tu amigo!' (Host your friend!).
Negative Imperative
yo: no hospedes
Use 'no hospedes' (don't host) and other negative commands in the present subjunctive.