mandar Imperfect Conjugation
mandar — to send
The imperfect of mandar follows the regular -aba pattern: mandaba, mandabas, mandaba, mandábamos, mandabais, mandaban.
mandar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a habit of sending things in the past or to set the scene (e.g., 'I was sending the letter when...').
Notes on mandar in the Imperfect
Mandar is completely regular in the imperfect. Note the accent on the 'nosotros' form: mandábamos.
Example Sentences
Antes, yo mandaba cartas todos los meses.
Before, I used to send letters every month.
yo
Nosotros mandábamos postales desde cada ciudad.
We used to send postcards from every city.
nosotros
Tú mandabas muchos mensajes cuando eras joven.
You used to send many messages when you were young.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: mandaba (without accent) for nosotros.
Correct: mandábamos
Why: All regular -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the 'nosotros' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: mando
The present tense of mandar is regular: mando, mandas, manda, mandamos, mandáis, mandan.
Preterite
yo: mandé
The preterite of mandar is regular: mandé, mandaste, mandó, mandamos, mandasteis, mandaron.
Future
yo: mandaré
The future of mandar uses the infinitive plus endings: mandaré, mandarás, mandará, mandaremos, mandaréis, mandarán.
Conditional
yo: mandaría
The conditional of mandar is regular: mandaría, mandarías, mandaría, mandaríamos, mandaríais, mandarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: mande
The present subjunctive of mandar is regular: mande, mandes, mande, mandemos, mandéis, manden.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: mandara
The imperfect subjunctive of mandar uses the preterite stem: mandara, mandaras, mandara, mandáramos, mandarais, mandaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: manda
The affirmative imperative of mandar provides commands: manda (tú), mande (usted), mandad (vosotros), manden (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no mandes
The negative imperative of mandar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no mandes, no mande, no mandemos, no mandéis, no manden.