vigilar Imperfect Conjugation
vigilar — to guard
The imperfect 'vigilaba/vigilaban' describes ongoing or habitual past actions and background.
vigilar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe what you *used to do* or what was *happening* over a period in the past. It sets the scene, like 'Mientras yo vigilaba, tú dormías' (While I was guarding, you were sleeping).
Notes on vigilar in the Imperfect
Vigilar is regular in the imperfect indicative.
Example Sentences
Yo vigilaba la casa todas las noches.
I used to guard the house every night.
yo
¿Tú vigilabas a los niños cuando eran pequeños?
Did you watch the children when they were little?
tú
Él vigilaba la puerta principal.
He was guarding the main door.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros vigilábamos el ganado durante la noche.
We used to watch over the cattle during the night.
nosotros
Ellos vigilaban el campamento.
They were guarding the campsite.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for ongoing past actions.
Correct: For ongoing actions, use 'vigilaba', not 'vigiló'.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions, while the imperfect is for actions in progress or habitual past.
Mistake: Using the imperfect for a single, completed past action.
Correct: For a completed action, use 'vigiló', not 'vigilaba'.
Why: The imperfect describes the background or duration, not the specific end point of an action.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: vigilo
The present tense 'vigilo/vigilan' describes actions happening now or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: vigilé
The preterite 'vigilé/vigilaron' describes completed actions in the past.
Future
yo: vigilaré
The future tense 'vigilaré/vigilarán' indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: vigilaría
The conditional 'vigilaría/vigilarían' expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: vigile
The present subjunctive 'vigile/vigilen' expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: vigilara
The imperfect subjunctive 'vigilara/vigilaran' is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: vigila
Use 'vigila' for tú, 'vigile' for usted/ustedes, and 'vigilen' for ustedes/ellos/ellas commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no vigiles
Use 'no vigiles' for tú, 'no vigile' for usted, and 'no vigilen' for ustedes/ellos/ellas negative commands.