tachar Imperfect Conjugation
tachar — to cross out
The imperfect of tachar is regular: tachaba, tachabas, tachaba, tachábamos, tachabais, tachaban.
tachar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'tachar' to describe ongoing actions in the past, habitual actions, or to set the scene. For example, 'Cuando era niño, tachaba las estrellas en el cielo' (When I was a child, I used to cross out the stars in the sky).
Notes on tachar in the Imperfect
Tachar is regular in the imperfect indicative, following the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo tachaba las palabras que ya no usaba.
I used to cross out the words I no longer used.
yo
¿Tú tachabas las opciones incorrectas en los exámenes?
Did you used to cross out the incorrect options on the exams?
tú
Él tachaba los nombres de la lista cada mañana.
He crossed out the names from the list every morning.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros tachábamos los errores mientras revisábamos.
We were crossing out the errors as we reviewed.
nosotros
Ellos tachaban los elementos de la lista sin pensar.
They were crossing out items from the list without thinking.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect: 'Ayer taché las cosas' vs 'Cada día tachaba las cosas'.
Correct: Use preterite for completed actions ('taché') and imperfect for ongoing/habitual actions ('tachaba').
Why: The imperfect describes the background or habit, while the preterite describes a specific, finished event.
Mistake: Incorrect accent on 'tachábamos'.
Correct: The accent is on the 'a': 'tachábamos'.
Why: The accent marks the stressed syllable in this nosotros form of the imperfect.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: tacho
The present tense of tachar is regular: tacho, tachas, tacha, tachamos, tacháis, tachan.
Preterite
yo: taché
The preterite of tachar is regular: taché, tachaste, tachó, tachamos, tachasteis, tacharon.
Future
yo: tacharé
The future tense of tachar is regular: tacharé, tacharás, tachará, tacharemos, tacharéis, tacharán.
Conditional
yo: tacharía
The conditional of tachar is regular: tacharía, tacharías, tacharía, tacharíamos, tacharíais, tacharían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: tache
The present subjunctive of tachar (tache, taches, tachen, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tachara
The imperfect subjunctive of tachar (tachara, tacharas, tacháramos, etc.) expresses hypothetical past actions or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tacha
Use the imperative of tachar for direct commands: tacha, tache, tachen, tachemos, tachad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no taches
To give negative commands with tachar, use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no tacha, no tache, no tachen, no tachemos, no tachéis.