
torturar Imperfect Conjugation
torturar — to torture
The imperfect of torturar follows the regular -aba pattern: torturaba, torturabas, torturaba, torturábamos, torturabais, torturaban.
torturar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe ongoing mental anguish or habitual situations of distress in the past where the start and end points aren't focused on.
Notes on torturar in the Imperfect
This verb is regular in the imperfect. Only the 'nosotros' form requires a written accent on the second-to-last syllable.
Example Sentences
De niño, mi hermano me torturaba con sus juguetes.
As a child, my brother used to torture me with his toys.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros torturábamos a los vecinos con la música alta.
We used to torture the neighbors with loud music.
nosotros
Ellos torturaban a los animales en ese laboratorio.
They were torturing animals in that laboratory.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'torturía' instead of 'torturaba'.
Correct: torturaba
Why: Learners often confuse -ar and -er/-ir endings in the imperfect; -ar verbs always use -aba.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'torturar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: torturo
The present tense of torturar is regular: torturo, torturas, tortura, torturamos, torturáis, torturan.
Preterite
yo: torturé
The preterite of torturar is regular: torturé, torturaste, torturó, torturamos, torturasteis, torturaron.
Future
yo: torturaré
The future of torturar is formed by adding endings to the infinitive: torturaré, torturarás, torturará...
Conditional
yo: torturaría
The conditional of torturar is regular: torturaría, torturarías, torturaría, torturaríamos, torturaríais, torturarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: torture
The present subjunctive of torturar uses -e endings: torture, tortures, torture, torturemos, torturéis, torturen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: torturara
The imperfect subjunctive of torturar is built from the preterite stem: torturara, torturaras, torturara, etc.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tortura
The affirmative imperative of torturar is: tortura (tú), torturad (vosotros), and uses subjunctive for others.
Negative Imperative
yo: no tortures
The negative imperative of torturar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms.