imitar Imperfect Conjugation
imitar — to copy
The imperfect of imitar is regular: imitaba, imitabas, imitaba, imitábamos, imitabais, imitaban.
imitar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, or to describe the background setting. For example, 'When I was little, I always imitated my dad' or 'He was imitating the bird's song'.
Notes on imitar in the Imperfect
Imitar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern for the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, imitaba a los superhéroes.
When I was a child, I used to imitate superheroes.
yo
Tú imitabas las voces de los personajes.
You were imitating the characters' voices.
tú
Ella imitaba la caligrafía de su madre.
She was imitating her mother's handwriting.
él/ella/usted
Ellos imitaban a los actores en sus obras.
They used to imitate the actors in their plays.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for descriptions.
Correct: For describing a past situation or a habitual action, use the imperfect: 'Ella imitaba'. For a completed action, use the preterite: 'Ella imitó'.
Why: The imperfect sets the scene or describes continuity, while the preterite focuses on the completion of an action.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: imito
Imitar is regular in the present: imito, imitas, imita, imitamos, imitáis, imitan.
Preterite
yo: imité
Imitar is regular in the preterite: imité, imitaste, imitó, imitamos, imitasteis, imitaron.
Future
yo: imitaré
The future of imitar is regular: imitaré, imitarás, imitará, imitaremos, imitaréis, imitarán.
Conditional
yo: imitaría
The conditional of imitar is regular: imitaría, imitarías, imitaría, imitaríamos, imitaríais, imitarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: imite
The present subjunctive of imitar (imite, imites, etc.) expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: imitara
The imperfect subjunctive of imitar (imitaran, imitara, etc.) expresses past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: imita
Imita and imita forms are regular commands for 'imitar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no imites
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no imites, no imite, no imitemos, no imiten, no imitéis.