pelar Imperfect Conjugation
pelar — to peel
The imperfect of pelar uses the standard -aba endings: pelaba, pelabas, pelaba, pelábamos, pelabais, pelaban.
pelar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a habitual past action (like peeling potatoes every Sunday) or an ongoing action that was interrupted.
Notes on pelar in the Imperfect
Pelar is regular in the imperfect. The only accent is on the 'á' in the 'nosotros' form: pelábamos.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, siempre pelaba las uvas.
When I was a child, I always used to peel the grapes.
yo
Mi abuela pelaba las patatas mientras yo ponía la mesa.
My grandmother was peeling the potatoes while I was setting the table.
él/ella/usted
Ustedes pelaban la fruta para el desayuno todos los días.
You all used to peel the fruit for breakfast every day.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the nosotros form.
Correct: pelábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the first 'a' of the 'nosotros' ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pelo
The present tense of pelar follows the standard -ar pattern: pelo, pelas, pela, pelamos, peláis, pelan.
Preterite
yo: pelé
The preterite of pelar is regular: pelé, pelaste, peló, pelamos, pelasteis, pelaron.
Future
yo: pelaré
The future of pelar is formed by adding endings to the infinitive: pelaré, pelarás, pelará, pelaremos, pelaréis, pelarán.
Conditional
yo: pelaría
The conditional of pelar is regular: pelaría, pelarías, pelaría, pelaríamos, pelaríais, pelarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pele
The present subjunctive of pelar uses -e endings: pele, peles, pele, pelemos, peléis, pelen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pelara
The imperfect subjunctive of pelar is regular: pelara, pelaras, pelara, peláramos, pelarais, pelaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pela
The imperative of pelar gives commands: pela (tú), pelad (vosotros), pele (usted), pelen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no peles
The negative imperative of pelar uses the present subjunctive: no peles, no pele, no pelemos, no peléis, no pelen.