Using 'soler' alone

Confusing 'Soler' with 'Ser'

The verb 'solían' (or 'soler' in any form) is an auxiliary verb—it must always be followed immediately by another verb in its basic, infinitive form (e.g., 'solían ir,' 'solían hablar').

Always Needs a Partner

'Solían' is a form of the Imperfect tense, which is used to describe ongoing states, habits, and repeated actions in the past, often without a specific end date.

The Imperfect Tense

While the imperfect tense (e.g., 'comían') can mean 'they used to eat,' using 'solían comer' emphasizes that the action was a regular, established habit or custom.

More Specific than the Imperfect

Use 'solían' specifically when you want to highlight the repetitive nature of an action that occurred over a long period in the past.

Focus on Repetition

Very common when describing repeated actions, routines, or habits that occurred in the past.

'Solían' is the third-person plural imperfect form of 'soler,' meaning 'they used to' or 'they would regularly.' Learn how to use this essential verb to describe past habits and routines in Spanish.

solían

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

conditional

present

preterite

imperfect

future

imperative

affirmative

negative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

Practice Conjugations