marchar Imperfect Conjugation
marchar — march
The imperfect tense of march (marchaba, marchabas, marchaba) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
marchar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or used as background description. Think 'I *used to* march' or 'They *were marching* when...'.
Notes on marchar in the Imperfect
March is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms are predictable.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, marchaba en el desfile cada año.
When I was young, I marched in the parade every year.
yo
Tú marchabas muy rápido en aquel entonces.
You marched very quickly back then.
tú
Mientras marchaba, escuchaba música.
While he was marching, he listened to music.
él/ella/usted
Ellos marchaban pacíficamente.
They were marching peacefully.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for ongoing past actions.
Correct: Use 'Yo marchaba' for 'I was marching', not 'Yo marché'.
Why: The imperfect describes the ongoing nature or habit, while the preterite describes a completed action.
Mistake: Confusing the vosotros imperfect 'marchabais' with other forms.
Correct: Ensure you use the correct ending for vosotros: '-bais'.
Why: The '-bais' ending is specific to the vosotros form in the imperfect indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: marcho
The present tense of march (marcho, marchas, marcha) describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: marché
The preterite of march (marche, marchaste, marchó) indicates completed past actions.
Future
yo: marcharé
The future tense of march (marcharé, marcharás, marchará) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: marcharía
The conditional of march (marcharía, marcharías, marcharía) expresses 'would' actions or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: marche
The present subjunctive of march (marche, marches, marchen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: marchara
The imperfect subjunctive of march (marchara/marchase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ¡marcha!
Use imperative forms like '¡marcha!' (tú) and '¡marchen!' (ustedes) for direct commands with march.
Negative Imperative
yo: ¡no marches!
Negative commands with march use the present subjunctive, like '¡no marches!' (tú) or '¡no marchen!' (ustedes).