postular Imperfect Conjugation
postular — to apply
The imperfect 'postulaba' describes past habits or ongoing actions of applying.
postular Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for describing actions that were ongoing in the past, habitual actions, or setting the scene. For example, 'Cuando era joven, postulaba a muchos puestos' (When I was young, I used to apply for many positions) or 'Él postulaba mientras esperaba la respuesta' (He was applying while he waited for the answer).
Notes on postular in the Imperfect
Postular is regular in the imperfect tense. The imperfect endings for '-ar' verbs (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban) are added to the infinitive stem 'postul-'.
Example Sentences
Antes, yo postulaba a trabajos que ahora ni existen.
Before, I used to apply for jobs that don't even exist now.
yo
¿Tú postulabas para esa empresa?
Were you applying to that company?
tú
Ella postulaba a puestos similares cada año.
She applied for similar positions every year.
él/ella/usted
Ellos postulaban a la vez que estudiaban.
They were applying at the same time they were studying.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'postuló' instead of the imperfect 'postulaba' for a habitual past action.
Correct: Use 'postulaba' to describe something you used to do regularly in the past.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, setting a background, while the preterite describes a single, completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' form 'postulábamos' with the preterite 'postulamos'.
Correct: Remember the '-aba' ending for imperfect and '-amos' for preterite/present.
Why: These endings are distinct and mark different tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: postulo
Use the present tense like 'postulo' and 'postulan' for current or habitual actions of applying.
Preterite
yo: postulé
The preterite of 'postular' is regular: postulé, postulaste, postuló, postulamos, postulasteis, postularon.
Future
yo: postularé
The future tense 'postularé' and 'postularán' indicates what will happen.
Conditional
yo: postularía
The conditional 'postularía' expresses hypothetical 'would' scenarios.
Present Subjunctive
yo: postule
The present subjunctive, like 'postule' and 'postulen', expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: postulara
The imperfect subjunctive, like 'postulara' or 'postularas', is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: postula
Use the imperative forms like 'postula' and 'postulen' for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no postules
Negative commands like 'no postules' use the present subjunctive.