encontraba
en-kon-TRAH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ella siempre encontraba la manera de hacerme reír.
A2She was always finding a way to make me laugh (or: She used to always find a way...).
Yo me encontraba muy cansado después del trabajo.
B1I was feeling very tired after work.
El museo se encontraba justo al lado del río.
A2The museum was located right next to the river.
💡 Grammar Points
Imperfect Tense Function
The form 'encontraba' describes actions that were continuous or habitual in the past. Think of it as 'I used to find' or 'He/She/It was finding' over a period of time.
Subject Identity
'Encontraba' can be used for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), or 'usted' (formal you). Context is needed to know who is performing the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'encontró' (found, single event) when describing a past habit: 'Cada día encontró un error.'"
Correction: Use 'encontraba' for habits: 'Cada día encontraba un error.' (Every day, he would find an error.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Reflexive Use (Encontrarse)
When you add 'se' (se encontraba), the meaning shifts to 'to be located' or 'to feel.' Example: 'Se encontraba triste.' (He was feeling sad.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: encontraba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'encontraba' to describe a recurring past action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'encontraba' and 'encontró'?
'Encontraba' is the Imperfect tense, used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past (e.g., 'He used to find'). 'Encontró' is the Preterite tense, used for a single, completed action at a specific time (e.g., 'He found it yesterday').
How do I know if 'encontraba' means 'I found' or 'He/She found'?
Since 'yo' (I) and 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/formal you) share this same conjugation, you must rely on the context of the conversation or the subject pronoun being used. If the sentence starts with 'Yo,' it means 'I.' If it starts with 'Mi padre,' it means 'He.'