retroceder Imperfect Conjugation
retroceder — to move back
The imperfect of retroceder uses regular -er endings: retrocedía, retrocedías, retrocedía, retrocedíamos, retrocedíais, retrocedían.
retroceder Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a continuous movement backward in the past or a habitual action, such as how a certain machine used to move back repeatedly.
Notes on retroceder in the Imperfect
This verb is regular in the imperfect. All forms have an accent on the 'í' of the ending.
Example Sentences
Yo retrocedía mientras él avanzaba.
I was moving back while he was advancing.
yo
Vosotros retrocedíais siempre que había problemas.
You all used to back away whenever there were problems.
vosotros
Las olas retrocedían lentamente de la arena.
The waves were receding slowly from the sand.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: retrocedaba
Correct: retrocedía
Why: Learners sometimes apply -ar endings (-aba) to -er verbs like retroceder.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: retrocedo
The present tense of retroceder is regular: retrocedo, retrocedes, retrocede, retrocedemos, retrocedéis, retroceden.
Preterite
yo: retrocedí
The preterite of retroceder is regular: retrocedí, retrocediste, retrocedió, retrocedimos, retrocedisteis, retrocedieron.
Future
yo: retrocederé
The future of retroceder is formed by adding standard endings to the infinitive: retrocederé, retrocederás, retrocederá.
Conditional
yo: retrocedería
The conditional of retroceder adds -ía endings to the infinitive: retrocedería, retrocederías, retrocedería.
Present Subjunctive
yo: retroceda
The present subjunctive of retroceder uses -a endings: retroceda, retrocedas, retroceda, retrocedamos, retrocedáis, retrocedan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: retrocediera
The imperfect subjunctive of retroceder is built from the 'ellos' preterite: retrocediera, retrocedieras, retrocediera.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: retrocede
The affirmative imperative of retroceder gives direct commands: retrocede (tú), retroceda (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no retrocedas
The negative imperative of retroceder uses present subjunctive forms: no retrocedas, no retroceda, no retrocedamos.