internar Imperfect Conjugation
internar — to admit
Use 'internaba', 'internabas', 'internaba', 'internábamos', 'internabais', 'internaban' for ongoing or habitual past admissions.
internar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense describes actions that were happening over a period of time in the past, or things that happened habitually. For 'internar', it could mean 'He used to admit people every day' or 'They were admitting patients when the alarm went off.' It sets the scene or describes background actions.
Notes on internar in the Imperfect
Internar is a regular -ar verb in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard pattern: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.
Example Sentences
Cuando era médico, yo internaba a muchos pacientes.
When I was a doctor, I used to admit many patients.
yo
Tú internabas a los invitados en el hotel cada verano.
You used to admit the guests into the hotel every summer.
tú
El centro internaba a los niños sin hogar.
The center used to admit homeless children.
él/ella/usted
Ellos nos internaban en un programa de estudios.
They used to admit us into a study program.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros internábamos a los estudiantes en residencias antiguas.
We used to admit students into old dormitories.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Correct: Use 'internaba' for past habits or ongoing actions, not 'internó'.
Why: The imperfect describes the background or duration, while the preterite signifies a completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' form with the preterite.
Correct: The imperfect 'internábamos' is different from the preterite 'internamos'.
Why: The '-ábamos' ending clearly marks the imperfect tense for habitual or ongoing past actions.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'internar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: interno
Use 'interno', 'internas', 'interna', 'internamos', 'internáis', 'internan' for current, habitual, or general truths about admitting.
Preterite
yo: interné
Use 'interné', 'internaste', 'internó', 'internamos', 'internasteis', 'internaron' for completed actions of admitting in the past.
Future
yo: internaré
Use 'internaré', 'internarás', 'internará', 'internaremos', 'internaréis', 'internarán' for future admissions.
Conditional
yo: internaría
Use 'internaría', 'internarías', 'internaría', 'internaríamos', 'internaríais', 'internarían' for hypothetical or polite requests about admitting.
Present Subjunctive
yo: interne
Use 'interne' (yo/él/ella/usted/ustedes), 'internemos' (nosotros), 'internes' (tú), 'internéis' (vosotros) for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: internara
Use 'internara' or 'internase' forms for past hypothetical or uncertain situations, like 'if I were to admit'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: interna
Use 'interna' (tú), 'interne' (usted), 'internemos' (nosotros), 'internen' (ustedes), 'internad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no internes
Use 'no internes' (tú), 'no interne' (usted), 'no internemos' (nosotros), 'no internen' (ustedes), 'no internéis' (vosotros) for negative commands.