importaba
/eem-por-TAH-bah/
mattered
Depicting something that "mattered" (was important).
importaba(verb)
mattered
?as in: it mattered to me
,was important
?as in: it was important to him
used to matter
?repeated past action
📝 In Action
No me importaba lo que pensaran los demás.
A2I didn't care (it didn't matter to me) what others thought.
A ella le importaba mucho su trabajo.
B1Her job was very important to her.
Antes no nos importaba el dinero.
A2Money didn't matter to us before.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Gustar' Structure
'Importar' works just like 'gustar' (to like). The thing that matters is the subject, and the person it matters to is shown by a small word (me, te, le, etc.) placed before the verb. Example: 'Me importaba' (It mattered to me).
Using the Imperfect Tense
'Importaba' describes a continuous or habitual state in the past. It means something 'used to matter' or 'was important' over a period of time, not just in one single moment.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the person who cares
Mistake: "Yo importaba la noticia. (Literally: I mattered the news.)"
Correction: A mí me importaba la noticia. (The news mattered to me.) Remember the person who cares needs 'me,' 'te,' or 'le' before the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the 3rd Person
When 'importar' means 'to matter,' you will almost always use the 3rd person singular ('importaba') or 3rd person plural ('importaban'). The first person 'Yo importaba' (I mattered) is rare in this context.
Visualizing the continuous action of "was importing" goods.
importaba(verb)
was importing
?continuous action in the past
,used to import
?habitual action in the past
was bringing in
?goods or products
📝 In Action
La compañía importaba fruta de Chile cada mes.
B1The company was importing (used to import) fruit from Chile every month.
Yo importaba café antes de la crisis.
B2I used to import coffee before the crisis.
💡 Grammar Points
Standard Verb Use
Unlike the 'to matter' meaning, when 'importar' means 'to import,' it behaves like a normal Spanish verb. The subject (who imports) performs the action on the direct object (what is imported).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you see 'importaba' followed by a small word (me/te/le), it means 'to matter.' If it's followed by a direct object (fruta, café), it means 'to import goods.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: importaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'importaba' to mean 'to matter'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'importaba' translate to 'I didn't care' sometimes?
Because 'importaba' is most often used in the negative with the first-person pronoun: 'No me importaba' (It didn't matter to me). Since 'to matter' and 'to care' are closely linked when talking about feelings, 'I didn't care' is the most natural English translation for this common phrase in the past.
What is the difference between 'importaba' and 'importó'?
'Importaba' (Imperfect tense) describes something that was important over a long period, or a general background state in the past. 'Importó' (Preterite tense) describes a single, finished event, like 'The result mattered once' or 'He imported one specific shipment.'