prescindir Imperfect Conjugation
prescindir — to do without
The imperfect ('prescindía', 'prescindías') describes past habits or ongoing situations of doing without.
prescindir Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'prescindir' to describe actions of doing without that were habitual in the past, or ongoing situations in the past where someone was doing without something. It sets the scene.
Notes on prescindir in the Imperfect
'Prescindir' is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard -ir verb pattern for this tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo prescindía de muchas cosas.
When I was young, I used to do without many things.
yo
¿Tú prescindías de la calefacción en tu antigua casa?
Did you usually do without heating in your old house?
tú
Él siempre prescindía de los postres en las cenas familiares.
He always did without desserts at family dinners.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros prescindíamos de los lujos en aquella época.
We were doing without luxuries back then.
nosotros
Ellos prescindían de la televisión porque preferían leer.
They did without television because they preferred to read.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for habitual past actions.
Correct: Use 'prescindía' for past habits, not 'prescindí'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past, while the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both 'prescindía' (yo) and 'prescindía' (él/ella/usted) are identical.
Why: Context is key to understanding who is performing the habitual action.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: prescindo
The present tense ('prescindo', 'prescindes') describes current actions or general truths about doing without things.
Preterite
yo: prescindí
The preterite of prescindir is regular: 'prescindí', 'prescindiste', 'prescindió', 'prescindimos', 'prescindisteis', 'prescindieron'.
Future
yo: prescindiré
The future tense ('prescindiré', 'prescindirás') indicates actions of doing without that will happen later.
Conditional
yo: prescindiría
The conditional ('prescindiría', 'prescindirías') expresses hypotheticals like 'would do without'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: prescinda
The present subjunctive ('prescinda', 'prescindas') follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: prescindiera
Use the imperfect subjunctive ('prescindiera' or 'prescindiese') for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: prescinde
Use imperative forms like 'prescinde' (tú) and 'prescinda' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no prescindas
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no prescindas' (tú) or 'no prescinda' (usted).