probar Imperfect Conjugation
probar — try
Probar is regular in the imperfect: probaba, probabas, probaba, probábamos, probabais, probaban.
probar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a habit of trying things (like 'I used to try every dessert') or to set the scene (like 'I was trying on a shirt when...').
Notes on probar in the Imperfect
There are no stem changes or irregularities for probar in the imperfect.
Example Sentences
De niño, yo probaba todo tipo de frutas.
As a child, I used to try all kinds of fruits.
yo
Mientras probábamos el vino, llegó el camarero.
While we were tasting the wine, the waiter arrived.
nosotros
Ellos siempre probaban los videojuegos antes de comprarlos.
They always used to test video games before buying them.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'probábamos'.
Correct: probábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect have an accent on the 'a' in the nosotros form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pruebo
Probar is an o>ue stem-changer: pruebo, pruebas, prueba, probamos, probáis, prueban.
Preterite
yo: probé
Probar is completely regular in the preterite: probé, probaste, probó, probamos, probasteis, probaron.
Future
yo: probaré
The future of probar is regular: probaré, probarás, probará, probaremos, probaréis, probarán.
Conditional
yo: probaría
The conditional of probar is regular: probaría, probarías, probaría, probaríamos, probaríais, probarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pruebe
Probar follows the o>ue change in the subjunctive: pruebe, pruebes, pruebe, probemos, probéis, prueben.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: probara
The imperfect subjunctive of probar is regular: probara, probaras, probara, probáramos, probarais, probaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: prueba
Commands for probar: prueba (tú), pruebe (usted), probad (vosotros), prueben (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no pruebes
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no pruebes (tú), no pruebe (usted), no probemos (nosotros), no prueben (ustedes).