idear Imperfect Conjugation
idear — to devise
The imperfect of idear ('ideaba', 'ideabas') describes ongoing or habitual past actions of devising ideas.
idear Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'idear' to describe actions of devising that were ongoing or habitual in the past. It sets the scene or describes what someone used to do regularly. For example, 'Cuando era joven, ideaba muchas historias' (When I was young, I used to devise many stories).
Notes on idear in the Imperfect
Idear is regular in the imperfect indicative tense. The forms are: 'ideaba' (yo, él/ella/usted), 'ideabas' (tú), 'ideábamos' (nosotros), 'ideabais' (vosotros), 'ideaban' (ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Example Sentences
Yo ideaba planes divertidos para los fines de semana.
I used to devise fun plans for the weekends.
yo
¿Tú ideabas trucos para ganar en el juego?
Were you devising tricks to win the game?
tú
Ella ideaba nuevas recetas cada día en su cocina.
She was devising new recipes every day in her kitchen.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros ideábamos proyectos ambiciosos en la universidad.
We used to devise ambitious projects in college.
nosotros
Ellos ideaban maneras de mejorar la comunicación en el equipo.
They were devising ways to improve communication in the team.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('ideó') instead of the imperfect ('ideaba') for a background action or habit.
Correct: Use 'ideaba' for ongoing or repeated actions in the past: 'Ella ideaba un plan cada tarde.'
Why: The imperfect describes the background or habitual nature, while the preterite focuses on a completed event.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'ideábamos' (nosotros).
Correct: Write 'ideábamos' with the accent on the second 'a'.
Why: The accent is required to show the correct stress and pronunciation.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: ideo
The present tense of idear ('ideo', 'ideas', 'idea') describes current actions, habits, or general truths about devising ideas.
Preterite
yo: ideé
The preterite of idear is regular: ideé, ideaste, ideó, ideamos, ideasteis, idearon, for completed past actions.
Future
yo: idearé
The future tense of idear ('idearé', 'idearás') expresses actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: idearía
The conditional of idear ('idearía', 'idearías') is used for hypotheticals ('would devise'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: idee
The present subjunctive ('idee', 'idees', 'ideemos') expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, or uncertainty about current or future events.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: ideara
The imperfect subjunctive ('ideara', 'idease') is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: idea
Use imperative forms like 'idea' (tú) and 'ideen' (ustedes) for direct commands with idear.
Negative Imperative
yo: no idees
Use negative commands like 'no idees' (tú) and 'no ideen' (ustedes) with 'no' and the present subjunctive.