recuperar Imperfect Conjugation
recuperar — to recover
The imperfect tense of recuperar (recuperaba, recuperabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
recuperar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or set the scene. Think of it as 'used to recover' or 'was recovering'. For example, 'He used to recover quickly' or 'We were recovering the documents when...'.
Notes on recuperar in the Imperfect
'Recuperar' is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, using the stem 'recuperab-' and the imperfect endings (-a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -an).
Example Sentences
Yo recuperaba mi aliento después de correr.
I used to catch my breath after running.
yo
Tú recuperabas la esperanza cada día.
You used to regain hope every day.
tú
Ellos recuperaban viejos tesoros en sus expediciones.
They used to recover old treasures on their expeditions.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Cuando éramos niños, recuperábamos las pelotas que se caían.
When we were children, we used to recover the balls that fell.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite ('recuperé') for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Correct: For ongoing or habitual past actions, use the imperfect: 'Yo recuperaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes background actions or routines, while the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros imperfect form with the preterite.
Correct: The imperfect nosotros form is 'recuperábamos', while the preterite is 'recuperamos'.
Why: The imperfect has a distinct '-ba-' stem, clearly differentiating it from the preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: recupero
The present tense of recuperar (recupero, recuperas, etc.) describes current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: recuperé
The preterite of recuperar (recuperé, recuperaste, etc.) marks completed actions in the past.
Future
yo: recuperaré
The future tense of recuperar (recuperaré, recuperarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: recuperaría
The conditional of recuperar (recuperaría, recuperarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical actions ('would recover').
Present Subjunctive
yo: recupere
The present subjunctive (recupere, recuperes, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: recuperara
The imperfect subjunctive (recuperara/recuperase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: recupera
The imperative of recuperar is irregular for tú (recupera) and vosotros (recuperad), but regular for others.
Negative Imperative
yo: no recuperes
Negative commands with 'no' use the present subjunctive: no recuperes, no recupere, no recuperemos, no recuperéis, no recuperen.