rematar Imperfect Conjugation
rematar — to finish off
The imperfect of rematar is regular: remataba, rematabas, remataba, rematábamos, rematabais, remataban.
rematar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or background descriptions. For 'rematar', it could describe a situation where someone *used to* finish things off regularly, or was in the process of finishing something when another action occurred.
Notes on rematar in the Imperfect
Rematar is regular in the imperfect indicative. It follows the standard pattern: remataba, rematabas, remataba, rematábamos, rematabais, remataban.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, yo remataba todos mis juguetes.
When I was a child, I finished off all my toys.
yo
Tú siempre rematabas las frases con un comentario sarcástico.
You always finished sentences with a sarcastic comment.
tú
Él remataba la jugada mientras el público aplaudía.
He was finishing the play while the crowd applauded.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros rematábamos la comida casi todos los domingos.
We used to finish the meal almost every Sunday.
nosotros
Ellos remataban la construcción a pesar de la lluvia.
They were finishing the construction despite the rain.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed action in the past.
Correct: Say 'Rematé el libro ayer' (I finished the book yesterday), not 'Remataba el libro ayer'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, while the preterite is for completed, punctual actions.
Mistake: Confusing the yo and él/ella/usted forms.
Correct: Both 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' use 'remataba' in the imperfect.
Why: These two persons share the same form in the imperfect, which is a common point of confusion for learners.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: remato
The present tense of rematar is regular: remato, rematas, remata, rematamos, rematáis, rematan.
Preterite
yo: rematé
The preterite of rematar is regular: rematé, remataste, remató, rematamos, rematasteis, remataron.
Future
yo: remataré
The future tense of rematar is regular: remataré, rematarás, rematará, remataremos, remataréis, rematarán.
Conditional
yo: remataría
The conditional of rematar is regular: remataría, rematarías, remataría, remataríamos, remataríais, rematarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: remate
Use 'remate' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'remates' (tú), 'rematemos' (nosotros), 'rematen' (ellos/ellas/ustedes), 'rematéis' (vosotros) after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, etc.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: rematara
Use 'rematara' or 'rematase' (and its -ra/-se forms) for past hypothetical or uncertain situations.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: remata
Use 'remata' (tú), 'remate' (usted), 'rematemos' (nosotros), 'rematen' (ustedes), 'rematad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no remates
Use 'no remates' (tú), 'no remate' (usted), 'no rematemos' (nosotros), 'no rematen' (ustedes), 'no rematéis' (vosotros) for negative commands.