tornar Imperfect Conjugation
tornar — to return
The imperfect of 'tornar' is regular: tornaba, tornabas, tornaba, tornábamos, tornabais, tornaban, for ongoing or habitual past returning.
tornar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect of 'tornar' to describe actions of returning that were ongoing, habitual, or set the scene in the past. It's used for descriptions and background actions, not completed events.
Notes on tornar in the Imperfect
'Tornar' is regular in the imperfect tense. It follows the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Cuando era niño, tornaba a casa de mis abuelos cada verano.
When I was a child, I used to return to my grandparents' house every summer.
yo
¿Tornabas tú siempre las herramientas después de usarlas?
Did you always return the tools after using them?
tú
El cartero tornaba al buzón cada día.
The mailman returned to the mailbox every day.
él/ella/usted
Ellos tornaban la ropa al tendedero.
They were returning the clothes to the clothesline.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Mientras tornábamos las cajas, recordábamos viejos tiempos.
While we were returning the boxes, we remembered old times.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'tornó' for a habitual past action.
Correct: Use 'tornaba' for habitual past actions, like 'Él tornaba a la oficina cada día'.
Why: The imperfect describes repeated or ongoing actions in the past, which the preterite does not.
Mistake: Confusing 'tornaban' (imperfect) with 'tornaron' (preterite).
Correct: Use 'tornaban' for background or ongoing actions ('Ellos tornaban las compras') and 'tornaron' for a single completed action ('Ellos tornaron las compras ayer').
Why: The imperfect suggests duration or habit, while the preterite signifies a finished event.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: torno
The present tense of 'tornar' is regular: torno, tornas, torna, tornamos, tornáis, tornan, used for current or habitual returning.
Preterite
yo: torné
The preterite of 'tornar' is regular: torné, tornaste, tornó, tornamos, tornasteis, tornaron, used for completed past actions of returning.
Future
yo: tornaré
The future tense of 'tornar' is regular: tornaré, tornarás, tornará, tornaremos, tornaréis, tornarán, for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: tornaría
The conditional of 'tornar' is regular: tornaría, tornarías, tornaría, tornaríamos, tornaríais, tornarían, for hypothetical 'would' actions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: torne
The present subjunctive of 'tornar' (torne, tornes, tornemos, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tornara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'tornar' (tornara, tornaras, tornáramos, etc.) is used for past hypothetical situations or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: torna
Use the imperative of 'tornar' for direct commands: torna (tú), torne (usted), tornemos (nosotros), tornad (vosotros), tornen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no tornes
Negative commands for 'tornar' use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no tornes (tú), no torne (usted), no tornemos (nosotros), no tornéis (vosotros), no tornen (ustedes).