virar Imperfect Conjugation
virar — to turn
The imperfect of virar (viraba, virabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past turns.
virar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect tense to describe actions that were happening over a period in the past, or actions that happened repeatedly. For 'virar', think of background descriptions: 'El coche viraba por calles estrechas' (The car was turning through narrow streets) or habitual actions: 'Cuando era niño, viraba en esa esquina para ir a casa' (When I was a child, I used to turn at that corner to go home).
Notes on virar in the Imperfect
Virar is regular in the imperfect indicative. The forms are: viraba, virabas, viraba, virábamos, virabais, viraban.
Example Sentences
Yo viraba en esa calle todos los días.
I used to turn on that street every day.
yo
Tú virabas sin mirar el espejo.
You were turning without looking in the mirror.
tú
El GPS viraba hacia la autopista.
The GPS was directing us to turn onto the highway.
él/ella/usted
Ellos viraban constantemente en el laberinto de calles.
They were constantly turning in the maze of streets.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'viró' for a habitual or ongoing past turn.
Correct: Use 'viraba' for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Why: The imperfect describes the scene or routine, while the preterite describes a specific, completed event.
Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating the 'nosotros' form.
Correct: The correct imperfect nosotros form is 'virábamos'.
Why: Ensure the correct imperfect ending '-ábamos' is used.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: viro
The present tense of virar (viro, viras, vira, etc.) describes actions happening now or habitual turns.
Preterite
yo: viré
The preterite of virar is regular: viré, viraste, viró, viramos, virasteis, viraron.
Future
yo: viraré
The future tense of virar (viraré, virarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: viraría
The conditional of virar (viraría, virarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical turns ('would turn') or polite suggestions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: vire
The present subjunctive of virar (vire, vires, viremos, etc.) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: virara
The imperfect subjunctive of virar (virara/virase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: vira
Use the imperative of virar for direct commands: vira (tú), vire (usted/ustedes), viremos (nosotros), virad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no vires
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no vires (tú), no vire (usted/ustedes), no viremos (nosotros), no viréis (vosotros).