sobrepasar Imperfect Conjugation
sobrepasar — to exceed
The imperfect of sobrepasar is regular: sobrepasaba, sobrepasabas, sobrepasaba, sobrepasábamos, sobrepasabais, sobrepasaban.
sobrepasar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe ongoing actions, habitual actions, or background descriptions in the past. It sets the scene or describes what was happening over a period of time, like consistently exceeding a budget or a person who used to exceed expectations.
Notes on sobrepasar in the Imperfect
Sobrespasar is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard '-ar' verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, yo sobrepasaba los límites constantemente.
When I was young, I constantly exceeded the limits.
yo
¿Tú siempre sobrepasabas el tiempo permitido en los exámenes?
Did you always exceed the time allowed on exams?
tú
El río sobrepasaba su nivel normal debido a las lluvias.
The river was exceeding its normal level due to the rains.
él/ella/usted
Antes, nosotros sobrepasábamos las cuotas de producción.
Before, we used to exceed the production quotas.
nosotros
Ellos vivían en una casa que sobrepasaba el tamaño de las demás.
They lived in a house that exceeded the size of the others.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect.
Correct: Use 'sobrepasaba' to describe a habitual past action.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past, while the preterite describes a single completed event.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'sobrepasábamos' (nosotros).
Correct: The form is 'sobrepasábamos' with an accent on the second 'á'.
Why: The accent marks the stressed syllable in this imperfect form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: sobrepaso
The present tense of sobrepasar is regular: sobrepaso, sobrepasas, sobrepasa, sobrepasamos, sobrepasáis, sobrepasan.
Preterite
yo: sobrepasé
The preterite of sobrepasar is regular: sobrepasé, sobrepasaste, sobrepasó, sobrepasamos, sobrepasasteis, sobrepasaron.
Future
yo: sobrepasaré
The future tense of sobrepasar is regular: sobrepasaré, sobrepasarás, sobrepasará, sobrepasaremos, sobrepasaréis, sobrepasarán.
Conditional
yo: sobrepasaría
The conditional of sobrepasar is regular: sobrepasaría, sobrepasarías, sobrepasaría, sobrepasaríamos, sobrepasaríais, sobrepasarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sobrepase
The present subjunctive of sobrepasar (sobrepase, sobrepases, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: sobrepasara
The imperfect subjunctive of sobrepasar (e.g., sobrepasara, sobrepasaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: sobrepasa
The imperative of sobrepasar gives direct commands: sobrepasa (tú), sobrepase (usted), sobrepasemos (nosotros), sobrepasen (ustedes), sobrepasad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no sobrepases
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no sobrepases (tú), no sobrepase (usted), no sobrepasemos (nosotros), no sobrepasen (ustedes), no sobrepaséis (vosotros).