pillar Imperfect Conjugation
pillar — to catch
Pillaba, pillabas, pillaba, pillábamos, pillabais, pillaban describe past ongoing or habitual actions for 'pillar'.
pillar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense of 'pillar' to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. For instance, 'Cuando era niño, pillaba el autobús escolar' means 'When I was a child, I used to catch the school bus'.
Notes on pillar in the Imperfect
Pillar is regular in the imperfect tense. All forms are predictable for an -ar verb.
Example Sentences
Yo pillaba un resfriado cada invierno.
I used to catch a cold every winter.
yo
Tú pillabas el mismo tren todos los días.
You used to catch the same train every day.
tú
Ella pillaba la indirecta, pero no decía nada.
She understood the hint, but said nothing.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros pillábamos el autobús a las siete.
We used to catch the bus at seven.
nosotros
Ellos pillaban los mensajes tarde.
They used to get the messages late.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('pillé') instead of the imperfect ('pillaba') for habitual past actions.
Correct: Use 'pillaba' to describe actions that happened repeatedly or continuously in the past.
Why: The preterite is for single, completed events, while the imperfect is for duration or repetition.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' imperfect form.
Correct: The 'nosotros' form is 'pillábamos', with the accent on the 'a'.
Why: This is a common spot for accent errors.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pillo
Pillo, pillas, pilla, pillamos, pilláis, pillan are the 'to catch' forms for now or habits.
Preterite
yo: pillé
Pillé, pillaste, pilló, pillamos, pillasteis, pillaron are the completed past actions for 'pillar'.
Future
yo: pillaré
Pillaré, pillarás, pillará, pillaremos, pillaréis, pillarán are the future 'will catch' forms.
Conditional
yo: pillaría
Pillaría, pillarías, pillaría, pillaríamos, pillaríais, pillarían express 'would catch' hypotheticals.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pille
The present subjunctive of pillar (pille, pilles, pille, pillemos, pillen, pillen) is for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pillara
The imperfect subjunctive of pillar (pillara/pillase) is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pilla
Pilla, pillad, pille, pillemos, pillen are the commands for 'pillar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pilles
Don't catch: no pilles, no pilléis, no pille, no pillemos, no pillen.