pulsar Imperfect Conjugation
pulsar — to press
The imperfect 'pulsaba' describes ongoing or habitual past actions, like 'Yo pulsaba el botón a menudo'.
pulsar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions that were happening repeatedly or continuously in the past, or to describe background settings. It answers 'what was happening?' or 'what used to happen?'.
Notes on pulsar in the Imperfect
Pulsar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Yo pulsaba ese botón cada día.
I used to press that button every day.
yo
Tú pulsabas el control remoto sin parar.
You were pressing the remote control non-stop.
tú
Cuando era niño, él pulsaba todos los botones.
When he was a child, he used to press all the buttons.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros pulsábamos el interruptor para encender la luz.
We would press the switch to turn on the light.
nosotros
Ellos pulsaban la tecla 'espacio' para pausar.
They were pressing the space bar to pause.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for a habitual past action.
Correct: Use the imperfect 'pulsaba', 'pulsaban', etc., for habits.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions, not repeated ones.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect with the present progressive.
Correct: The imperfect describes past ongoing actions ('pulsaba'), while the present progressive describes current ones ('está pulsando').
Why: They describe similar types of actions but in different time frames.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pulso
The present tense 'pulso', 'pulsas', 'pulsa' describes current actions or habits.
Preterite
yo: pulsé
The preterite of pulsar is regular: 'pulsé', 'pulsaste', 'pulsó', 'pulsamos', 'pulsasteis', 'pulsaron' for completed actions.
Future
yo: pulsaré
The future tense 'pulsaré', 'pulsarás' indicates actions that will happen, like 'Pulsaré el botón mañana'.
Conditional
yo: pulsaría
The conditional 'pulsaría' is for hypotheticals ('would press') or polite requests, like 'Pulsaría el botón si pudiera'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pulse
Use the present subjunctive (pulse, pulsemos) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion, like 'Espero que pulses el botón'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pulsara
The imperfect subjunctive (pulsara/pulsase) is for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'Si pulsara el botón...'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pulsa
Use 'pulsa' (tú) and 'pulse' (usted) for direct commands, like 'pulsa el botón'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pulses
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, e.g., 'no pulses el botón'.