Using the Wrong Past Tense

This form describes actions that were repeated, habitual, or ongoing in the past. Think of it as 'used to...' or 'was/were -ing...'

The Imperfect Tense (Imperfecto)

We use 'sonaba' to describe the background sound or setting when another, shorter action (using the preterite tense) happened. Example: 'El teléfono sonaba (background), y luego lo cogí (short action).'

Setting the Scene

Note that 'sonar' has a tricky vowel change in the present tense ('sueno'), but it is completely regular in the imperfect tense ('sonaba').

Vowel Change Tip

Extremely common; used for describing ongoing or repeated sounds, like alarms, music, or voices, in the past.

Confusing 'Sonaba' and 'Sonó'

When 'sonar' means 'to sound familiar,' it usually takes an indirect object pronoun (like 'me,' 'te,' 'le') to show who is doing the recognizing. Example: 'Me sonaba' (It sounded familiar to me).

Using 'Me' or 'Te'

If you can replace 'sonaba' with 'seemed' or 'gave the impression of' in English, you are using this figurative meaning correctly.

Easy Recognition

Commonly used in figurative speech to express familiarity, recognition, or an impression about something heard or mentioned.

Learn the Spanish word 'sonaba,' the imperfect past tense of 'sonar.' Understand its two main uses: describing an ongoing sound ('was ringing') and expressing familiarity ('sounded familiar'). Includes full conjugation.

sonaba

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

present

imperative

negative

affirmative

indicative

imperfect

present

preterite

conditional

future

Practice Conjugations