dejaba
/deh-HAH-bah/
used to leave
This image shows the habitual action of 'used to leave' something behind.
dejaba(verb)
used to leave
?habitual action in the past
,was leaving
?ongoing action in the past
was abandoning
?leaving someone/something behind
📝 In Action
Yo siempre dejaba mi mochila junto a la puerta.
A1I always used to leave my backpack next to the door.
Él nunca me dejaba mensajes de voz.
A2He never used to leave me voice messages.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense (Habitual Past)
'Dejaba' describes actions that happened repeatedly or continuously in the past, like a past habit or routine. Think of it as 'used to leave' or 'was leaving.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'dejó' (preterite) when describing a past routine."
Correction: Use 'dejaba' for routines ('Every day, I used to leave my keys here'). 'Dejó' is for a single, completed action ('Yesterday, I left my keys here').
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing a Scene
Use 'dejaba' when setting the scene for a story, describing how things were: 'La casa era oscura y siempre dejaba las ventanas cerradas' (The house was dark and I always left the windows closed).
The open gate symbolizes past permission, visualizing 'used to allow.'
dejaba(verb)
used to allow
?past permission/lack of restriction
,was letting
?giving permission continuously in the past
📝 In Action
Mi madre nunca me dejaba ir a fiestas.
A2My mother never used to let me go to parties.
La ley dejaba que los ciudadanos votaran a los 18 años.
B1The law allowed citizens to vote at 18 years old.
💡 Grammar Points
Allowing vs. Making
When 'dejaba' means 'to allow,' the next verb is usually in the infinitive (the base form, like 'comer' or 'ir'). Example: 'Me dejaba estudiar' (He used to let me study).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Reflexive Pronouns
To say 'I used to let myself (do something),' you would use 'me dejaba.' Example: 'Me dejaba comer postre' (I used to let myself eat dessert).
This image depicts the concept of 'used to stop' an activity.
dejaba(verb)
used to stop
?when followed by 'de' + another verb
,was quitting
?describing a continuous attempt to quit
📝 In Action
Cuando era niño, dejaba de comer dulces por una semana.
B1When I was a child, I used to stop eating sweets for one week (as a habit).
Ella dejaba de hablar cada vez que entraba el director.
B1She used to stop talking every time the director entered.
💡 Grammar Points
The Structure for Quitting
To express stopping a past action, you must use the structure 'dejaba + de + infinitive (base verb form).' The 'de' is essential!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing 'de'
Mistake: "Yo dejaba comer (I used to leave/allow eating)"
Correction: Yo dejaba de comer (I used to stop eating). Adding 'de' changes the meaning from 'allow' to 'stop.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dejaba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'dejaba' to mean 'used to allow'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'dejaba' and 'dejó'?
'Dejaba' (imperfect) describes a continuous or repeated action in the past ('He used to leave'). 'Dejó' (preterite) describes a single, finished action that happened at a specific time ('He left the keys yesterday').
How do I know if 'dejaba' means 'to stop' or 'to allow'?
It's easy! If you see the little word 'de' immediately after 'dejaba' (e.g., 'dejaba de comer'), it means 'to stop.' If 'de' is missing (e.g., 'dejaba comer'), it means 'to allow.'