registrar Imperfect Conjugation
registrar — to record
The imperfect 'registraba' describes ongoing or habitual past actions of recording.
registrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense for actions that were happening continuously in the past, or for habitual actions in the past. It sets the scene or describes background. For example, 'Cuando era niño, registraba mis sueños' (When I was a child, I used to record my dreams) or 'El sistema registraba los errores constantemente' (The system was constantly recording the errors).
Notes on registrar in the Imperfect
Registrar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Yo registraba las llamadas importantes.
I used to record the important calls.
yo
¿Tú registraba la temperatura todos los días?
Did you record the temperature every day?
tú
Ella registraba las ventas en un cuaderno antiguo.
She recorded the sales in an old notebook.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros registraba la asistencia durante el curso.
We used to record attendance during the course.
nosotros
Ellos registraban sus pensamientos antes de dormir.
They used to record their thoughts before sleeping.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single completed action.
Correct: Use the preterite 'registró' for a specific past event, not 'registraba'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, not one-time completed events.
Mistake: Confusing 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both 'registraba' (yo) and 'registraba' (él/ella/usted) are the same.
Why: This shared form relies heavily on context to determine the subject.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'registrar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: registro
The present tense 'registro', 'registras', 'registra', etc., is for current actions, habits, or general truths about recording.
Preterite
yo: registré
The preterite of registrar is regular: registré, registraste, registró, registramos, registrasteis, registraron.
Future
yo: registraré
The future tense 'registraré', 'registrarás', etc., states what will be recorded.
Conditional
yo: registraría
The conditional 'registraría' expresses hypothetical 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: registre
Use 'registre' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'registren' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: registrara
The imperfect subjunctive forms like 'registrara' or 'registrara' are used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: registra
Use the imperative 'registra' (tú) and 'registren' (ustedes) for direct commands to record.
Negative Imperative
yo: no registres
Use 'no registres' (tú) and 'no registren' (ustedes) with 'no' to forbid recording.