operar Imperfect Conjugation
operar — to perform surgery
The imperfect of 'operar' (operaba) describes habitual or ongoing past surgeries, or sets the scene.
operar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past. For example, 'Cuando era joven, operaba casos sencillos' (When I was young, I used to operate on simple cases) or 'Mientras el equipo preparaba la sala, el cirujano revisaba los estudios' (While the team prepared the room, the surgeon was reviewing the studies).
Notes on operar in the Imperfect
Operar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The stem 'opera-' is consistent across all forms, with standard imperfect endings for -ar verbs (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban).
Example Sentences
Yo operaba en ese hospital hace años.
I used to operate at that hospital years ago.
yo
¿Tú operabas a menudo en esa clínica?
Did you often operate at that clinic?
tú
Ella operaba mientras yo asistía.
She was operating while I was assisting.
él/ella/usted
Antes, nosotros operábamos con un equipo más pequeño.
Before, we used to operate with a smaller team.
nosotros
Ellos operaban durante el día.
They used to operate during the day.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed surgery.
Correct: For a specific, finished surgery, use the preterite: 'El cirujano operó'. Use the imperfect ('operaba') for background, ongoing, or habitual past actions.
Why: The imperfect describes the context or duration of past actions, not their completion.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros form 'operábamos' with other tenses.
Correct: Ensure context clarifies if 'operábamos' refers to a habitual past action (imperfect) or a completed one (preterite - which would be 'operamos').
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, differentiating it from the preterite's completed actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: opero
The present tense of 'operar' (opero) is used for actions happening now, habitual surgeries, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: operé
The preterite of 'operar' is regular: operé, operaste, operó, operamos, operasteis, operaron.
Future
yo: operaré
The future tense of 'operar' (operaré) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: operaría
The conditional of 'operar' (operaría) expresses hypothetical actions ('would operate') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: opere
The present subjunctive of 'operar' (opere) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: operara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'operar' (operara/operase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: opera
Use the imperative of operar for direct commands: opera, operemos, operen, operad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no operes
Negative commands for 'operar' use the present subjunctive: no operes, no operemos, no operen, no operéis.