infiltrar Imperfect Conjugation
infiltrar — to infiltrate
The imperfect of 'infiltrar' (infiltraba, infiltrabas, infiltraba, infiltrábamos, infiltrabais, infiltraban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
infiltrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for actions that were happening continuously in the past, or for repeated actions or habits. For 'infiltrar', it could describe a spy who *used to* infiltrate places regularly, or what was happening *while* someone was infiltrating.
Notes on infiltrar in the Imperfect
'Infiltrar' is regular in the imperfect indicative tense. All forms follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs, using the imperfect stem 'infiltraba-'.
Example Sentences
Yo me infiltraba en reuniones secretas cuando era joven.
I used to infiltrate secret meetings when I was young.
yo
¿Tú te infiltrabas en la base enemiga cada noche?
Did you infiltrate the enemy base every night?
tú
El agente se infiltraba en el círculo de sospechosos.
The agent was infiltrating the circle of suspects.
él/ella/usted
Ellos se infiltraban en el sistema mientras el guardia dormía.
They were infiltrating the system while the guard slept.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros infiltrábamos la información poco a poco.
We used to infiltrate the information little by little.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Correct: Say 'Me infiltraba en la fiesta todos los días' (I used to infiltrate...) not 'Me infiltré...' (I infiltrated - completed).
Why: The imperfect describes the background or continuity of past actions, while the preterite marks a specific, finished event.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros form with the vosotros form.
Correct: Remember 'infiltrábamos' (nosotros) and 'infiltrabais' (vosotros).
Why: These endings are distinct and crucial for correct conjugation.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: infiltro
The present tense of 'infiltrar' (infiltro, infiltras, infiltra, infiltran) describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: infiltré
The preterite of 'infiltrar' is regular: infiltré, infiltaste, infiltró, infiltró, infiltrasteis, infiltraron.
Future
yo: infiltraré
The future tense of 'infiltrar' (infiltraré, infiltrarás, infiltrará, etc.) is used for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: infiltraría
The conditional of 'infiltrar' (infiltraría, infiltrarías, infiltraría, etc.) expresses hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: infiltre
The present subjunctive of 'infiltrar' (infiltre, infiltres, infiltremos, infiltréis, infiltren) is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: infiltrara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'infiltrar' (infiltrara/infiltrase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts, often following 'si' (if).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: infiltra
Use the imperative for direct commands with 'infiltrar': infiltra (tú), infiltre (usted), infiltremos (nosotros), infiltrad (vosotros), infiltren (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no infiltres
Form negative commands for 'infiltrar' using 'no' + present subjunctive: no infiltres (tú), no infiltre (usted), no infiltremos (nosotros), no infiltréis (vosotros), no infiltren (ustedes).