resbalar Imperfect Conjugation
resbalar — to slip
Use imperfect like 'resbalaba' for ongoing or habitual past actions.
resbalar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect describes past situations, habits, or actions that were in progress without a clear end. For 'resbalar', it could be 'Resbalaba a menudo en ese tramo de la carretera.' (I often used to slip on that stretch of road.) It sets the scene or describes background conditions.
Notes on resbalar in the Imperfect
Resbalar is regular in the imperfect tense. The endings (-aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban) are added to the infinitive stem.
Example Sentences
Yo resbalaba mucho cuando era niño.
I used to slip a lot when I was a child.
yo
¿Tú resbalabas a menudo por aquí?
Did you often slip around here?
tú
Él resbalaba cada vez que llovía.
He would slip every time it rained.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros resbalábamos en esa alfombra vieja.
We used to slip on that old carpet.
nosotros
Ellos resbalaban si no se sujetaban.
They would slip if they didn't hold on.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for habitual past actions.
Correct: Use 'Resbalaba' (imperfect) for past habits, not 'Resbalé'.
Why: The imperfect describes repeated or ongoing actions in the past, while the preterite describes single, completed events.
Mistake: Incorrectly adding the 'r' in the nosotros form.
Correct: The form is 'resbalábamos', not 'resbalabamos'.
Why: The imperfect endings for -ar verbs always include the 'a' before the 'ba' syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: resbalo
Use present tense like 'resbalo' for actions happening now or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: resbalé
The preterite of resbalar is regular: resbalé, resbalaste, resbaló, resbalamos, resbalasteis, resbalaron.
Future
yo: resbalaré
The future tense of resbalar is regular: resbalaré, resbalarás, resbalará, resbalaremos, resbalaréis, resbalarán.
Conditional
yo: resbalaría
The conditional of resbalar is regular: resbalaría, resbalarías, resbalaría, resbalaríamos, resbalaríais, resbalarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: resbale
Use present subjunctive like 'resbale' after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: resbalara
Use imperfect subjunctive like 'resbalara' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: resbala
Use imperative forms like 'resbala' (tú) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no resbales
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, e.g., 'no resbales' (tú).