inhalar Imperfect Conjugation
inhalar — to inhale
The imperfect of inhalar is regular: inhalaba, inhalabas, inhalaba, inhalábamos, inhalabais, inhalaban, for ongoing or habitual past actions.
inhalar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe the action of inhaling when it was ongoing, habitual, or setting the scene in the past. For example, 'He used to inhale deeply' or 'While I was inhaling, the phone rang'.
Notes on inhalar in the Imperfect
Inhalar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Yo inhalaba el olor a mar cada mañana.
I used to inhale the smell of the sea every morning.
yo
Tú inhalabas con dificultad debido a la alergia.
You were inhaling with difficulty due to the allergy.
tú
Él inhalaba profundamente mientras meditaba.
He was inhaling deeply while meditating.
él/ella/usted
Ellos inhalaban el humo sin darse cuenta del peligro.
They were inhaling the smoke without realizing the danger.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect ('inhalaba') for a single, completed action in the past.
Correct: Use the preterite: 'Inhaló una vez'.
Why: The imperfect describes duration or repetition, not a single event.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'inhalábamos' (nosotros) with the present 'inhalamos'.
Correct: Ensure context clarifies past ('inhalábamos') vs. present ('inhalamos').
Why: These forms sound identical and rely heavily on the surrounding sentence.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: inhalo
The present tense of inhalar is regular: inhalo, inhalas, inhala, inhalamos, inhaláis, inhalan, for actions happening now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: inhalé
The preterite of inhalar is regular: inhalé, inhalaste, inhaló, inhalamos, inhalasteis, inhalaron, for completed past actions.
Future
yo: inhalaré
The future tense of inhalar is regular: inhalaré, inhalarás, inhalará, inhalaremos, inhalaréis, inhalarán, for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: inhalaría
The conditional of inhalar is regular: inhalaría, inhalarías, inhalaría, inhalaríamos, inhalaríais, inhalarían, for hypothetical actions ('would').
Present Subjunctive
yo: inhale
The present subjunctive of inhalar is regular: inhale, inhales, inhalemos, inhalen, inhaléis, used after expressions of desire, doubt, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: inhalara
The imperfect subjunctive of inhalar has two forms: inhalara/inhalase and inhalarais/inhalaseis, used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: inhala
The imperative of inhalar uses regular -ar endings: inhala, inhale, inhalemos, inhalen, inhalad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no inhales
Negative commands for inhalar use 'no' + present subjunctive: no inhales, no inhale, no inhalemos, no inhalen, no inhaléis.