amabas
ah-MAH-bahs
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Tú amabas jugar en el jardín de niños.
A2You used to love playing in the garden as a child.
Pensé que amabas a tu gato.
A2I thought you loved your cat.
En aquel entonces, amabas la música clásica.
B1Back then, you were loving classical music.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Used To' Tense
Amabas is in the 'imperfect' tense. Think of this as the 'watercolor' tense: it describes scenes or feelings in the past that don't have a clear beginning or end, just like a blurry background.
Who are we talking to?
The '-bas' ending tells you specifically that you are talking to a friend or someone you know well (tú).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Amabas vs. Amaste
Mistake: "Using 'amaste' to describe a childhood feeling."
Correction: Use 'amabas' because childhood feelings were ongoing habits, not one-time events.
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
Use 'amabas' when you are setting the stage for a story, like 'You used to love that song, until one day...'
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: amabas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence best uses 'amabas' to describe a past habit?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'amabas' mean 'you loved' or 'you used to love'?
It can mean both! In English, we use different phrases, but in Spanish, 'amabas' covers any love that was happening continuously or habitually in the past.
Can I use 'amabas' for a person I just met?
Generally no. 'Amabas' is the informal form for 'tú.' If you are speaking very formally, you would use 'amaba' (for usted).