juntar Imperfect Conjugation
juntar — to join
Juntar is regular in the imperfect: juntaba, juntabas, juntaba, juntábamos, juntabais, juntaban. Use for ongoing/habitual past actions.
juntar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense of 'juntar' to describe actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or set the scene. It's about the process of joining or gathering, not a completed event.
Notes on juntar in the Imperfect
Juntar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, juntaba monedas.
When I was a child, I used to collect coins.
yo
Tú juntabas a tus amigos en tu casa cada fin de semana.
You used to get your friends together at your house every weekend.
tú
El profesor juntaba los exámenes en una pila.
The teacher was gathering the exams into a pile.
él/ella/usted
Ellos juntaban sus ideas para formar un plan.
They were combining their ideas to form a plan.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras juntábamos las sillas, hablábamos del partido.
While we were putting the chairs together, we were talking about the game.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'juntaba' for a specific completed action.
Correct: Say 'Ayer junté los papeles' (preterite), not 'Ayer juntaba los papeles'.
Why: The imperfect describes duration or habit, while the preterite describes a single, completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'juntábamos' with the present 'juntamos'.
Correct: Make sure the '-ba-' stem is clear for past ongoing actions.
Why: The '-ba-' ending specifically denotes the imperfect tense.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'juntar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: junto
Juntar is regular in the present: junto, juntas, junta, juntamos, juntáis, juntan. Use for now, habits, truths.
Preterite
yo: junté
Juntar is regular in the preterite: junté, juntaste, juntó, juntamos, juntasteis, juntaron. Use for completed actions.
Future
yo: juntaré
The future of 'juntar' is regular: juntaré, juntarás, juntará, juntaremos, juntaréis, juntarán. Used for future actions or probability.
Conditional
yo: juntaría
The conditional of 'juntar' is regular: juntaría, juntarías, juntaría, juntaríamos, juntaríais, juntarían. Use for 'would' or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: junte
Use the present subjunctive after wishes, doubts, emotions, or uncertainty: 'junte' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'juntes' (tú), 'juntemos' (nosotros), 'juntéis' (vosotros), 'junten' (ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: juntara
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra or -se form) expresses past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations, like 'si juntara' (if I joined).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: junta
Make direct commands with 'junta' (tú), 'junte' (usted), 'juntemos' (nosotros), 'junten' (ustedes), 'juntad' (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no juntes
Use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no juntes' (tú), 'no junte' (usted), 'no juntemos' (nosotros), 'no junten' (ustedes), 'no juntéis' (vosotros).