restar Imperfect Conjugation
restar — to subtract
The imperfect of restar follows the standard -aba pattern: restaba, restabas, restaba, restábamos, restabais, restaban.
restar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe how things used to be subtracted habitually or to set the scene where something was diminishing another thing over time.
Notes on restar in the Imperfect
Restar is regular in the imperfect. Remember the accent mark only on the 'nosotros' form (restábamos).
Example Sentences
En la escuela siempre restábamos con los dedos.
In school we always used to subtract with our fingers.
nosotros
El ruido le restaba encanto al lugar.
The noise was taking away the charm from the place.
él/ella/usted
Ellos restaban las pérdidas cada viernes.
They used to subtract the losses every Friday.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: restabaís
Correct: restabais
Why: The vosotros form of -ar imperfect verbs does not have an accent on the 'i'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: resto
The present tense of restar is regular: resto, restas, resta, restamos, restáis, restan.
Preterite
yo: resté
Restar is regular in the preterite: resté, restaste, restó, restamos, restasteis, restaron.
Future
yo: restaré
The future of restar is formed by adding endings to the infinitive: restaré, restarás, restará, restaremos, restaréis, restarán.
Conditional
yo: restaría
The conditional of restar is regular: restaría, restarías, restaría, restaríamos, restaríais, restarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: reste
The present subjunctive of restar uses -e endings: reste, restes, reste, restemos, restéis, resten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: restara
The imperfect subjunctive of restar is regular: restara, restaras, restara, restáramos, restarais, restaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: resta
The affirmative imperative of restar gives commands: resta, reste, restemos, restad, resten.
Negative Imperative
yo: no restes
The negative imperative of restar uses the present subjunctive: no restes, no reste, no restemos, no restéis, no resten.