daba
DAH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Cuando era niño, mi abuela me daba caramelos.
A2When I was little, my grandmother used to give me candies.
Él siempre daba las gracias al camarero.
A2He always gave thanks to the waiter.
Yo le daba dinero cada semana para el autobús.
A1I was giving him money every week for the bus.
La ventana daba a un hermoso jardín.
B1The window faced (gave onto) a beautiful garden.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense's Job
"Daba" describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past (like 'used to give' or 'was giving'). It sets the scene or describes a habit.
Irregularity of 'Dar'
Even though 'dar' is an -ar verb, its imperfect form 'daba' is one of only three truly irregular imperfect verbs in Spanish (the others are ir and ser). Memorize this form!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Usando 'di' (preterite) para hablar de hábitos: 'Cada día, él di dinero.'"
Correction: Use 'daba' (imperfect) for habits: 'Cada día, él daba dinero.' (Every day, he used to give money.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Remembering the Person
The 'yo' (I) form and the 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal) form are identical: 'Yo daba' and 'Él daba.' Use the subject pronoun (Yo, Él) to make it clear who is doing the action.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: daba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'daba' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'daba' means 'I gave' or 'he/she gave'?
You need context! Because the 'yo' (I) form and the 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal) form are the same, Spanish speakers usually include the subject (Yo, Él, Ella) or rely on the surrounding sentences to clarify who the giver is.
Is 'daba' a regular verb form?
No. While most -ar verbs have regular imperfect forms, 'dar' is one of the three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense. The form 'daba' is unique and must be memorized.