intentar Imperfect Conjugation
intentar — to try
The imperfect of intentar follows the regular -ar pattern: intentaba, intentabas, intentaba, intentábamos, intentabais, intentaban.
intentar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe an ongoing attempt in the past or a habit of trying. It's perfect for setting the scene, like saying you 'were trying' to do something when something else happened.
Notes on intentar in the Imperfect
Intentar is regular in the imperfect. Remember that the yo and él/ella/usted forms are identical (intentaba).
Example Sentences
Yo intentaba dormir cuando el perro empezó a ladrar.
I was trying to sleep when the dog started barking.
yo
De niños, siempre intentábamos subir a ese árbol.
As kids, we always used to try to climb that tree.
nosotros
Tú intentabas decirme algo, ¿verdad?
You were trying to tell me something, right?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the nosotros form.
Correct: intentábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect indicative require an accent on the 'a' in the nosotros form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: intento
Intentar is a regular -ar verb in the present: intento, intentas, intenta, intentamos, intentáis, intentan.
Preterite
yo: intenté
The preterite of intentar is regular: intenté, intentaste, intentó, intentamos, intentasteis, intentaron.
Future
yo: intentaré
The future of intentar uses the infinitive plus endings: intentaré, intentarás, intentará, intentaremos, intentaréis, intentarán.
Conditional
yo: intentaría
The conditional of intentar is formed by adding -ía endings to the infinitive: intentaría, intentarías, intentaría, intentaríamos, intentaríais, intentarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: intente
The present subjunctive of intentar swaps the -a for -e: intente, intentes, intente, intentemos, intentéis, intenten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: intentara
The imperfect subjunctive of intentar uses the preterite stem: intentara, intentaras, intentara, intentáramos, intentarais, intentaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: intenta
The imperative of intentar gives commands: intenta (tú), intente (usted), intentad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no intentes
The negative imperative of intentar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no intentes, no intente, no intentemos, no intentéis, no intenten.