llevaba
/yeh-VAH-bah/
was carrying
The image shows a person who was carrying (llevaba) a basket, illustrating physical transport.
llevaba(verb)
was carrying
?physical transport
,used to carry
?habitual action in the past
was taking along
?movement
,was holding
?maintaining possession
📝 In Action
Ella siempre llevaba un paraguas en el bolso.
A1She always carried an umbrella in her bag.
Yo llevaba todas las cajas grandes a la camioneta.
A2I was carrying all the big boxes to the truck.
Cuando vivíamos allí, la gente llevaba sombreros tradicionales.
A2When we lived there, people used to wear traditional hats.
💡 Grammar Points
Focus on the Imperfect
This form ('llevaba') describes an action that happened many times in the past (habit) or an action that was ongoing when something else happened.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'llevó' (he carried once, completed) instead of 'llevaba' (he used to carry, habit)."
Correction: 'Llevaba' is for routines or background descriptions; 'llevó' is for a single, finished event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you are describing what a person looked like or what they habitually did years ago, 'llevaba' is the perfect choice.
This figure was wearing (llevaba) a red scarf, illustrating clothing or accessories.
llevaba(verb)
was wearing
?clothing or accessories
,used to wear
?habitual attire in the past
had on
?current attire in a past moment
📝 In Action
Cuando la conocí, ella siempre llevaba gafas de sol.
A1When I met her, she always wore sunglasses.
Yo llevaba puesto mi uniforme viejo para trabajar en el jardín.
A2I was wearing my old uniform to work in the garden.
El director llevaba corbata azul esa mañana.
A1The director was wearing a blue tie that morning.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Appearance
Use the imperfect form ('llevaba') to describe what someone looked like or what they had on as a background detail in a past story.
The adult was taking (llevaba) the child to the house, illustrating guiding someone to a place.
llevaba(verb)
was taking
?guiding someone to a place
,had been (doing something)
?time duration, e.g., 'had been waiting'
was handling
?managing a situation
📝 In Action
Yo la llevaba a su casa después del trabajo todos los días.
A2I used to take her home after work every day.
Llevaba dos horas esperando cuando llegó el tren.
B1She had been waiting for two hours when the train arrived.
Él llevaba muy bien las finanzas del negocio familiar.
B2He was handling the finances of the family business very well.
💡 Grammar Points
'Llevar' for Time
When 'llevar' is followed by a duration (e.g., 'dos años'), it translates to 'had been.' It describes how long an action had been continuing up to a point in the past.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' for Duration
Mistake: "Saying 'Era dos horas esperando' (Incorrect use of 'ser' for time duration)."
Correction: Use 'llevaba' to express 'had been' doing something: 'Llevaba dos horas esperando'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llevaba
Question 1 of 1
Which English sentence best uses 'llevaba' to describe a *past habit*?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does 'llevaba' refer to?
'Llevaba' is used for the singular people: 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (formal you). Context tells you who is doing the action.
What's the difference between 'llevaba' and 'llevó'?
'Llevaba' (imperfect) means 'was carrying' or 'used to carry,' focusing on continuous action or past routines. 'Llevó' (preterite) means 'he/she/it carried' or 'took,' referring to a single action that was completed at one point in time.