rellenar Imperfect Conjugation
rellenar — to fill out
The imperfect 'rellenaba' describes ongoing or habitual past actions of filling things out.
rellenar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe actions that were happening over a period in the past, or things you used to do regularly. For example, 'Cuando era niño, rellenaba muchos dibujos' (When I was a child, I used to fill in many drawings) or 'Ella rellenaba el formulario mientras esperaba' (She was filling out the form while she waited).
Notes on rellenar in the Imperfect
Rellenar is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard '-aba' endings for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo rellenaba formularios todo el día cuando trabajaba en esa oficina.
I used to fill out forms all day when I worked in that office.
yo
Tú rellenabas los espacios en blanco con información incorrecta.
You were filling in the blanks with incorrect information.
tú
El camarero rellenaba las copas de vino.
The waiter was refilling the wine glasses.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros rellenábamos las encuestas después de cada evento.
We used to fill out the surveys after each event.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect ('rellenaba') for a completed action.
Correct: For a finished action, use the preterite: 'rellené' (I filled out).
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, not completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros form.
Correct: The nosotros form is 'rellenábamos'.
Why: The '-ábamos' ending is standard for nosotros in the imperfect of -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: relleno
The present tense 'relleno' is used for current actions, habits, and general truths about filling things out.
Preterite
yo: rellené
The preterite of rellenar is regular: rellené, rellenaste, rellenó, rellenamos, rellenasteis, rellenaron.
Future
yo: rellenaré
The future tense 'rellenaré' indicates an action of filling something out that will happen.
Conditional
yo: rellenaría
The conditional 'rellenaría' expresses hypothetical actions ('would fill out') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: rellene
The present subjunctive 'rellene' is used for wishes, doubts, and suggestions about the present or future.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: rellenara
The imperfect subjunctive 'rellenara' or 'rellenase' expresses past wishes, hypotheticals, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: rellena
Use 'rellena' (tú) and 'rellene' (usted) for direct commands to fill out something.
Negative Imperative
yo: no rellenes
Use 'no rellenes' (tú) and 'no rellene' (usted) for negative commands.