numerar Imperfect Conjugation
numerar — to number
The imperfect tense (numeraba, numerabas...) is regular and describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
numerar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for descriptions in the past or actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously. For example, 'Cuando era niño, numeraba mis juguetes' (When I was a child, I used to number my toys).
Notes on numerar in the Imperfect
Numerar is a regular -ar verb and conjugates regularly in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Yo numeraba las cartas cada tarde.
I used to number the letters every afternoon.
yo
Tú numerabas los asientos en el teatro.
You were numbering the seats in the theater.
tú
Él numeraba los libros de la biblioteca cuando lo interrumpí.
He was numbering the library books when I interrupted him.
él/ella/usted
Ellos numeraban los pasos en el ejercicio.
They were numbering the steps in the exercise.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For a finished action like 'I numbered the pages yesterday', use the preterite: 'Numeré las páginas'.
Why: The imperfect describes duration or habit, not a specific, finished event.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'numeraba' with the preterite 'numeró' for the third person singular.
Correct: 'Él numeraba' implies an ongoing or habitual action, while 'él numeró' means he numbered it once and finished.
Why: These tenses have distinct functions: ongoing/habitual vs. completed action.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: numero
The present tense (numero, numeras, numera...) is regular and used for current actions or habits.
Preterite
yo: numeré
The preterite of numerar is regular: numeré, numeraste, numeró, numeramos, numerasteis, numeraron.
Future
yo: numeraré
The future tense (numeraré, numerarás...) is regular, with the infinitive as the stem.
Conditional
yo: numeraría
The conditional (numeraría, numerarías...) is regular and used for hypotheticals ('would') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: numere
The present subjunctive (e.g., 'numere', 'numeres') expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions about the present or future.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: numerara
The imperfect subjunctive (e.g., 'numerara' or 'numerase') is for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: numera
Use imperative forms like 'numera' (tú) and 'numere' (usted) for direct commands with 'numerar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no numeres
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, e.g., 'no numeres' (tú) or 'no numere' (usted).