instar Imperfect Conjugation
instar — to urge
The imperfect of instar: 'instaba', 'instabas', 'instaba', 'instábamos', 'instabais', 'instaban' describes past urging that was ongoing or habitual.
instar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a situation in the past where someone was repeatedly urging you, or when urging was part of the background description. For example, 'He was always urging me to be more careful.'
Notes on instar in the Imperfect
Instar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms follow the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Mi entrenador me instaba a entrenar más duro cada día.
My coach urged me to train harder every day.
él/ella/usted
Antes, mis padres nos instaban a comer todas las verduras.
Before, my parents used to urge us to eat all our vegetables.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras yo dudaba, tú me instabas a decidirme.
While I was hesitating, you were urging me to decide.
tú
En ese momento, todos instábamos a la calma.
At that moment, we were all urging calm.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of imperfect for ongoing or habitual past urging.
Correct: Use 'instaba' or 'instaban' for descriptions or habits, not 'instó' or 'instaron'.
Why: The imperfect sets the scene or describes repeated actions, while the preterite focuses on single, completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros form 'instábamos' with other tenses.
Correct: Ensure you use the correct imperfect ending '-ábamos'.
Why: This ending clearly marks the verb as imperfect indicative for the 'nosotros' subject.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: insto
The present tense of instar: 'insto', 'instas', 'insta', 'instamos', 'instáis', 'instan' is used for urging happening now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: insté
The preterite of instar is regular: insté, instaste, instó, instamos, instasteis, instaron.
Future
yo: instaré
The future tense of instar: 'instaré', 'instarás', 'instará', 'instaremos', 'instaréis', 'instarán' indicates future urging or probability.
Conditional
yo: instaría
The conditional of instar: 'instaría', 'instarías', 'instaría', 'instaríamos', 'instaríais', 'instarían' is for hypothetical urging or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: inste
The present subjunctive of instar, 'insté', 'instes', 'instemos', etc., is used after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: instara
The imperfect subjunctive of instar, like 'instara' or 'instase', is used for past hypothetical situations or past wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: insta
The imperative of instar is mostly regular, with 'insta' (tú) and 'instemos' (nosotros) being key forms.
Negative Imperative
yo: no instes
Negative commands with instar use the present subjunctive: 'no instes', 'no inste', 'no instemos', etc.