timar Imperfect Conjugation
timar — to swindle
The imperfect of timar is regular: timaba, timabas, timaba, timábamos, timabais, timaban, for ongoing or habitual past swindling.
timar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe habitual or ongoing actions of swindling in the past. It sets the scene, like 'He used to swindle people all the time' or 'While he was swindling, the police arrived.'
Notes on timar in the Imperfect
Timar is a regular -ar verb, and its imperfect conjugation is entirely regular.
Example Sentences
Cuando era joven, timaba a los turistas.
When I was young, I used to swindle tourists.
yo
Ellos timaban dinero a los incautos.
They used to swindle money from the unwary.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Tú timabas a la gente con ese truco?
Did you use to swindle people with that trick?
tú
Mi abuelo timaba en el juego.
My grandfather used to swindle in gambling.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for habitual past actions.
Correct: Use the imperfect 'timaba' for 'used to swindle'.
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated actions, setting the background, whereas the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing 'timábamos' (imperfect) with 'timaremos' (future).
Correct: 'Timábamos' means 'we were swindling/used to swindle', while 'timaremos' means 'we will swindle'.
Why: These are distinct tenses with different meanings and spellings.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: timo
The present of timar is regular: timo, timas, tima, timamos, timáis, timan, used for habitual or current swindling.
Preterite
yo: timé
The preterite of timar is regular: timé, timaste, timó, timamos, timasteis, timaron, used for completed past swindles.
Future
yo: timaré
The future of timar is regular: timaré, timarás, timará, timaremos, timaréis, timarán, for future swindling or probability.
Conditional
yo: timaría
The conditional of timar is regular: timaría, timarías, timaría, timaríamos, timaríais, timarían, for hypothetical or polite swindling.
Present Subjunctive
yo: time
The present subjunctive of timar (time, times, time, timemos, timéis, timen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: timara
The imperfect subjunctive of timar (timara, timaras, timara, timáramos, timarais, timaran) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tima
The imperative of timar is mostly regular, with 'timad' for vosotros and 'tima', 'time', 'timemos', 'timen' for others.
Negative Imperative
yo: no times
Negative commands with timar use the present subjunctive: no times, no time, no timemos, no timéis, no timen.