intercambiar Imperfect Conjugation
intercambiar — to exchange
The imperfect of 'intercambiar' is regular: intercambiaba, intercambiabas, intercambiaba, intercambiábamos, intercambiabais, intercambiaban.
intercambiar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, or to set the scene. You might describe how people used to exchange greetings regularly, or an exchange that was in progress when something else happened.
Notes on intercambiar in the Imperfect
Intercambiar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, intercambiaba mis juguetes con mi vecino.
When I was a child, I used to exchange my toys with my neighbor.
yo
Antes, intercambiabais cartas a menudo.
Before, you all used to exchange letters often.
vosotros
Ellos intercambiaban miradas cómplices.
They were exchanging knowing glances.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras él hablaba, yo intercambiaba notas con mi amiga.
While he was talking, I was exchanging notes with my friend.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single completed past action.
Correct: Use the preterite 'intercambió' for a one-time exchange, not 'intercambiaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' use 'intercambiaba'.
Why: These forms are identical in the imperfect tense for regular -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: intercambio
The present tense of 'intercambiar' is regular: intercambio, intercambias, intercambia, intercambiamos, intercambiáis, intercambian.
Preterite
yo: intercambié
The preterite of 'intercambiar' is regular: intercambié, intercambiaste, intercambió, intercambiamos, intercambiasteis, intercambiaron.
Future
yo: intercambiaré
The future tense of 'intercambiar' is regular: intercambiaré, intercambiarás, intercambiará, intercambiaremos, intercambiaréis, intercambiarán.
Conditional
yo: intercambiaría
The conditional of 'intercambiar' is regular: intercambiaría, intercambiarías, intercambiaría, intercambiaríamos, intercambiaríais, intercambiarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: intercambie
The present subjunctive of 'intercambiar' (intercambie, intercambies, etc.) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: intercambiara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'intercambiar' (e.g., intercambiara, intercambiaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: intercambia
Imperative commands for 'intercambiar' are: intercambia (tú), intercambie (usted), intercambiemos (nosotros), intercambiad (vosotros), intercambien (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no intercambies
Negative commands for 'intercambiar' use the present subjunctive: no intercambies (tú), no intercambie (usted), no intercambiemos (nosotros), no intercambiéis (vosotros), no intercambien (ustedes).