incidir Imperfect Conjugation
incidir — to impact
The imperfect ('incidía', 'incidías') describes ongoing or habitual past actions of focusing or impacting.
incidir Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for 'incidir' to describe actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or set the background scene. For example, 'El orador incidía en los mismos puntos' (The speaker kept emphasizing the same points) or 'El clima incidía en su estado de ánimo' (The weather used to affect his mood).
Notes on incidir in the Imperfect
Incidir is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms follow the standard pattern for -ir verbs.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, el ruido incidía mucho en mi concentración.
When I was a child, noise really affected my concentration.
él/ella/usted
Tú incidías en los detalles técnicos en todas tus explicaciones.
You used to focus on the technical details in all your explanations.
tú
Yo incidía en la necesidad de un enfoque diferente cada día.
I used to emphasize the need for a different approach every day.
yo
Ellos incidían en los beneficios del nuevo sistema.
They were emphasizing the benefits of the new system.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for ongoing past actions.
Correct: Use 'incidía' or 'incidían' for habitual or continuous past actions of impacting or focusing.
Why: The imperfect describes the duration or repetition of past actions, not a single completed event.
Mistake: Confusing imperfect forms with present indicative.
Correct: Remember the '-ía' endings for the imperfect (yo, él/ella/usted) and '-ían' for 'ellos/ellas/ustedes'.
Why: These endings are distinct and signal a past, non-completed action.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'incidir' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: incido
The present tense ('incido', 'incides') describes current actions or general truths about focusing or impacting.
Preterite
yo: incidí
The preterite of 'incidir' is regular: incidí, incidiste, incidió, incidimos, incidisteis, incidieron.
Future
yo: incidiré
The future tense ('incidiré', 'incidirás') indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: incidiría
The conditional ('incidiría', 'incidirías') expresses hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: incida
The present subjunctive ('incida', 'incidas') is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: incidiera
The imperfect subjunctive ('incidiera' or 'incidiera') is for past hypotheticals, wishes, or suggestions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: incide
Commands like 'incide' (tú) or 'incida' (usted) are used for direct instructions.
Negative Imperative
yo: no incidas
Negative commands like 'no incidas' (tú) or 'no incida' (usted) use the present subjunctive.