amaba
ah-MAH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Yo amaba ir al cine todos los sábados cuando era niño.
A1I used to love going to the movies every Saturday when I was a child.
Ella amaba la tranquilidad del campo, por eso se mudó.
A2She loved the tranquility of the countryside; that's why she moved.
Antes, mi abuelo amaba cultivar rosas en el jardín.
A2Before, my grandfather loved (or used to love) growing roses in the garden.
💡 Grammar Points
The Descriptive Past
This form ('amaba') is used to describe how things were in the past—like setting the scene, describing repeated actions, or explaining what was continuously happening.
Dual Subject Use
'Amaba' can mean 'I loved' (Yo) or 'He/She/You loved' (Él/Ella/Usted). You must use the subject pronoun or context to know who is doing the loving.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'amó' (the finished past) when describing a continuous state: 'Ella amó la música clásica por muchos años.'"
Correction: Use 'amaba' (the descriptive past) for ongoing states: 'Ella amaba la música clásica por muchos años.' ('Amó' would imply she loved it once, briefly, and it finished.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Used To' Rule
A great way to check if you need a word ending in -aba (like 'amaba') is to see if you can replace it with 'used to' in English (e.g., 'I used to love').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: amaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'amaba' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'amaba' and 'amó'?
'Amaba' describes a past state or a repeated action (I/He/She used to love, or loved continuously). 'Amó' (the finished past) describes a single, completed action that happened at a specific point in time (He/She loved [at that moment]).
How do I know if 'amaba' means 'I loved' or 'He loved'?
Since 'amaba' is the same form for 'Yo' (I) and 'Él/Ella/Usted' (He/She/You formal), you must rely on the context of the conversation or include the subject pronoun (Yo amaba, Él amaba) if it's unclear.