sujetar Imperfect Conjugation
sujetar — to hold
Use imperfect forms like 'sujetaba' and 'sujetaban' for ongoing or habitual past actions.
sujetar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect is used for descriptions in the past, ongoing actions without a clear beginning or end, and repeated actions. Think background setting or habits in the past.
Notes on sujetar in the Imperfect
Sujetar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The conjugations are formed by adding the standard imperfect endings to the infinitive stem.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, yo sujetaba mi oso de peluche.
When I was a child, I used to hold my teddy bear.
yo
¿Tú sujetabas el paraguas mientras llovía?
Were you holding the umbrella while it rained?
tú
Ella sujetaba la mano de su madre en la calle.
She was holding her mother's hand in the street.
él/ella/usted
Ellos sujetaban el mapa y discutían la ruta.
They were holding the map and discussing the route.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect for descriptions or ongoing actions, like 'Yo sujeté la manta toda la noche'.
Correct: Use 'Yo sujetaba la manta toda la noche' to describe the ongoing action.
Why: The imperfect describes duration and background, while the preterite marks a completed event.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' imperfect form with the preterite, e.g., 'sujetamos'.
Correct: The imperfect 'nosotros' form is 'sujetábamos'. 'Sujetamos' is the preterite (or present) form.
Why: The '-ábamos' ending clearly marks the imperfect tense for 'nosotros'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: sujeto
Use present forms like 'sujeto' and 'sujetan' for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: sujeté
Use preterite forms like 'sujeté' and 'sujetó' for completed actions in the past.
Future
yo: sujetaré
Use future forms like 'sujetaré' and 'sujetarán' for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: sujetaría
Use conditional forms like 'sujetaría' and 'sujetarían' for hypothetical situations or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sujete
Use present subjunctive forms like 'sujete' and 'sujeten' for wishes, doubts, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: sujetara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'sujetara' or 'sujetase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: sujeta
Use imperative forms like 'sujeta' and 'sujeten' for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no sujetes
Use negative commands like 'no sujetes' and 'no sujeten' with the present subjunctive.