intimidar Imperfect Conjugation
intimidar — to intimidate
The imperfect of 'intimidar' (intimidaba, intimidabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past intimidation.
intimidar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to set the scene. 'When I was young, older kids used to intimidate me.'
Notes on intimidar in the Imperfect
Intimidar is regular in the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, el vecino siempre me intimidaba.
When I was a child, the neighbor always intimidated me.
él/ella/usted
Tú intimidabas a tus hermanos menores para que te obedecieran.
You used to intimidate your younger siblings so they would obey you.
tú
Ellos intimidaban a los rivales antes de cada partido.
They used to intimidate the rivals before every game.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros no intimidábamos a nadie, éramos muy amables.
We didn't used to intimidate anyone, we were very kind.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for habitual past actions.
Correct: For repeated actions in the past, use 'intimidaba', not 'intimidó'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, setting the background, while the preterite marks completed events.
Mistake: Incorrect 'vosotros' form.
Correct: The correct form is 'intimidabais', not 'intimidabais'.
Why: The vosotros imperfect indicative form ends in -abais for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: intimido
The present tense of 'intimidar' (intimo, intimidas, etc.) describes current or habitual acts of intimidation.
Preterite
yo: intimidé
The preterite of 'intimidar' is regular: intimidé, intimidaste, intimidó, intimidamos, intimidasteis, intimidaron.
Future
yo: intimidaré
The future tense of 'intimidar' (intimidaré, intimidarás, etc.) speaks of future intimidation.
Conditional
yo: intimidaría
The conditional of 'intimidar' (intimidaría, intimidarías, etc.) expresses 'would' intimidate or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: intimide
The present subjunctive of 'intimidar' (intimide, intimides, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, emotion, or desire.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: intimidara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'intimidar' (intimidara, intimidaras, etc.) expresses hypothetical or uncertain past actions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: intimida
Use the imperative of 'intimidar' for direct commands like 'intimidate!' (tú: intimida, ustedes: intimiden).
Negative Imperative
yo: no intimides
Form negative commands for 'intimidar' using 'no' + present subjunctive (e.g., no intimides, no intimiden).