pactar Imperfect Conjugation
pactar — to reach an agreement
The imperfect of pactar is pactaba, pactabas, pactaba, pactábamos, pactabais, pactaban, used for ongoing or habitual past agreements.
pactar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense of pactar to describe habitual agreements in the past, or ongoing agreements that set the background for another action. For example, 'Antes, pactábamos todo verbalmente' (Before, we used to agree on everything verbally).
Notes on pactar in the Imperfect
Pactar is regular in the imperfect indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar verb imperfect pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, pactaba con mis amigos cada fin de semana.
When I was young, I used to make agreements with my friends every weekend.
yo
Ellos pactaban los términos en secreto.
They were agreeing on the terms in secret.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros pactábamos las fechas de entrega con antelación.
We used to agree on delivery dates in advance.
nosotros
Tú pactabas las condiciones, pero nunca cumplías.
You used to agree on the conditions, but you never fulfilled them.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past agreement.
Correct: Use the preterite 'pactamos' for a specific finished event like 'Ayer pactamos el trato'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not single completed events.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'pactábamos' (nosotros) with the preterite 'pactamos' (nosotros).
Correct: Remember the double 'b' in the imperfect: 'pactábamos'.
Why: The imperfect tense for -ar verbs has a double 'b' before the ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pacto
The present tense of pactar is pacto, pactas, pacta, pactamos, pactáis, pactan, used for current or habitual agreements.
Preterite
yo: pacté
The preterite of pactar is regular: pacté, pactaste, pactó, pactamos, pactasteis, pactaron, used for completed past agreements.
Future
yo: pactaré
The future tense of pactar is pactaré, pactarás, pactará, pactaremos, pactaréis, pactarán, used for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: pactaría
The conditional of pactar is pactaría, pactarías, pactaría, pactaríamos, pactaríais, pactarían, used for hypotheticals or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pacte
The present subjunctive of pactar is pacte (yo/él/ella/usted), pactemos (nosotros), pacten (ellos/ellas/ustedes), used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pactara
The imperfect subjunctive forms of pactar are pactara/pactase (él/ella/usted) and pactaran/pactasen (ellos/ellas/ustedes), used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pacta
Pacta (tú), pacte (usted), pactemos (nosotros), pactad (vosotros), pacten (ustedes) are the commands for pactar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pactes
Negative commands for pactar use the present subjunctive: no pactes (tú), no pacte (usted), no pactemos (nosotros), no pactéis (vosotros), no pacten (ustedes).