pinchar Imperfect Conjugation
pinchar — to prick
The imperfect of pinchar is regular: pinchaba, pinchabas, pinchaba, pinchábamos, pinchabais, pinchaban.
pinchar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for ongoing actions in the past ('Cuando era niño, pinchaba globos todo el tiempo'), habitual past actions ('Antes, pinchaba la ropa para marcarla'), or descriptions in the past ('El campo pinchaba bajo mis pies').
Notes on pinchar in the Imperfect
Pinchar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Yo pinchaba la piel con una aguja fina.
I used to prick the skin with a fine needle.
yo
Tú pinchabas los neumáticos para desinflarlos.
You used to prick the tires to deflate them.
tú
Ella pinchaba la masa con un tenedor.
She was pricking the dough with a fork.
él/ella/usted
Ellos pinchaban las burbujas de jabón.
They were popping soap bubbles.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Correct: For background actions or routines, use the imperfect: 'pinchaba'.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions, the imperfect for descriptions or continuous past actions.
Mistake: Confusing the yo and él/ella/usted forms, both 'pinchaba'.
Correct: Context and subject pronouns are key to distinguishing 'yo pinchaba' from 'él/ella/usted pinchaba'.
Why: These forms are identical; meaning relies on context.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pincho
The present of pinchar is regular: pincho, pinchas, pincha, pinchamos, pincháis, pinchan.
Preterite
yo: pinché
The preterite of pinchar is regular: pinché, pinchaste, pinchó, pinchamos, pinchasteis, pincharon.
Future
yo: pincharé
The future of pinchar is regular: pincharé, pincharás, pinchará, pincharemos, pincharéis, pincharán.
Conditional
yo: pincharía
The conditional of pinchar is regular: pincharía, pincharías, pincharía, pincharíamos, pincharíais, pincharían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pinche
Use 'pinche' (yo/él/ella/Ud.), 'pinches' (tú), 'pinchemos' (nosotros), 'pinchéis' (vosotros), 'pinchen' (ellos/ellas/Uds.) for wishes, doubts, emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pinchara
Use 'pinchara' or 'pinchase' forms for past hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pincha
Use 'pincha' (tú), 'pinche' (usted), 'pinchemos' (nosotros), 'pinchad' (vosotros), 'pinchen' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pinches
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: 'no pinches' (tú), 'no pinche' (usted), etc.