respaldar Imperfect Conjugation
respaldar — to support
The imperfect (respaldaba, respaldabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past support.
respaldar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe past situations where support was ongoing or habitual. It sets the scene or describes background actions in the past.
Notes on respaldar in the Imperfect
Respaldar is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo respaldaba mucho a mis amigos.
When I was young, I used to support my friends a lot.
yo
¿Tú siempre respaldabas las ideas de tu padre?
Did you always support your father's ideas?
tú
Él respaldaba a su hermano en todo.
He supported his brother in everything.
él/ella/usted
Ellos nos respaldaban constantemente.
They constantly supported us.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Vosotros nos respaldabais en cada paso.
You all used to support us at every step.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed act of support.
Correct: If you supported a proposal once, say 'La semana pasada respaldé la propuesta' (preterite), not 'La semana pasada respaldaba la propuesta' (imperfect).
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, not single, completed events.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: respaldo
The present tense (respaldo, respaldas, etc.) describes current actions, habits, and general truths about support.
Preterite
yo: respaldé
The preterite of respaldar is regular: respaldé, respaldaste, respaldó, respaldamos, respaldasteis, respaldaron.
Future
yo: respaldaré
The future tense (respaldaré, respaldarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: respaldaría
The conditional (respaldaría, respaldarías, etc.) expresses 'would' support, politeness, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: respalde
The present subjunctive (respalde, respaldes, etc.) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: respaldara
The imperfect subjunctive (respaldara/respaldase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: respalda
Use 'respalda' (tú), 'respalde' (usted), 'respaldemos' (nosotros), 'respalden' (ustedes), 'respaldad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no respaldes
Use 'no respaldes' (tú), 'no respalde' (usted), 'no respaldemos' (nosotros), 'no respalden' (ustedes), 'no respaldéis' (vosotros) for negative commands.