simular Imperfect Conjugation
simular — to pretend
The imperfect of simular is regular: simulaba, simulabas, simulaba, simulábamos, simulabais, simulaban.
simular Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect with 'simular' to describe ongoing or habitual actions of pretending in the past, or to set the scene. For instance, 'Cuando era niño, simulaba ser un superhéroe todos los días' (When I was a child, I used to pretend to be a superhero every day).
Notes on simular in the Imperfect
Simular is regular in the imperfect tense.
Example Sentences
Yo simulaba estar enfermo para faltar a clase.
I used to pretend to be sick to skip class.
yo
Tú simulabas tener superpoderes.
You pretended to have superpowers.
tú
Ella simulaba leer mientras esperaba.
She was pretending to read while she waited.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros simulábamos que la alfombra era lava.
We used to pretend the carpet was lava.
nosotros
Ellos simulaban no conocerme.
They pretended not to know me.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed act of pretending.
Correct: Use the preterite 'simuló' for a specific finished action, not 'simulaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions, while the preterite describes completed ones.
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect 'simulaba' (yo/él/ella/usted) with the preterite 'simuló'.
Correct: Remember 'simulaba' describes an ongoing or repeated past action, while 'simuló' is a single completed event.
Why: These tenses serve different functions for past actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: simulo
The present indicative of simular is regular: simulo, simulas, simula, simulamos, simuláis, simulan.
Preterite
yo: simulé
The preterite of simular is regular: simulé, simulaste, simuló, simulamos, simulasteis, simularon.
Future
yo: simularé
The future of simular is regular: simularé, simularás, simulará, simularemos, simularéis, simularán.
Conditional
yo: simularía
The conditional of simular is regular: simularía, simularías, simularía, simularíamos, simularíais, simularían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: simule
The present subjunctive of simular (simule, simules, simule, simulemos, simuléis, simulen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: simulara
The imperfect subjunctive of simular (simulara/simularas/simulara/simuláramos/simularais/simularan) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: simula
The imperative of simular uses 'simula' (tú), 'simule' (usted), 'simulemos' (nosotros), 'simulad' (vosotros), 'simulen' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no simules
Negative commands for simular use 'no' + present subjunctive: no simules (tú), no simule (usted), no simulemos (nosotros), no simuléis (vosotros), no simulen (ustedes).