miraba
mee-RAH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ella miraba las olas mientras caminaba por la playa.
A2She was watching the waves while she walked along the beach.
Yo miraba esa serie de niño, pero ya no la veo.
B1I used to watch that series as a kid, but I don't watch it anymore.
El perro miraba fijamente la pelota, esperando que se la tiraran.
A2The dog was looking intently at the ball, waiting for them to throw it.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'miraba'?
'Miraba' can mean 'I was looking' (yo) or 'he/she/it/you formal was looking' (él/ella/usted). You need the context of the sentence to know who is performing the action.
The Imperfect Tense's Job
This tense (the Imperfect) is used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past, repeated habits, or to set the scene for a story. It focuses on the duration, not the completion.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Imperfect and Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'Miró' (He looked—one single action) when you mean 'Miraba' (He was looking—a continuous action)."
Correction: Use 'miraba' when describing a background activity or something that happened repeatedly over time, like 'De niño, miraba muchos dibujos animados.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Descriptions
'Miraba' is perfect for describing what someone or something looked like in the past, or what they were doing when something else interrupted them.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: miraba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'miraba' to describe a past habit?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'miraba' always about seeing things with your eyes?
Yes, 'mirar' is fundamentally about directing your gaze. If you want to say 'I was seeing' (the general sense of sight), you would typically use 'veía' (from the verb 'ver'). 'Miraba' implies intention or attention.
How do I know if 'miraba' means 'I' or 'He/She'?
You must rely on context. If the sentence doesn't use 'yo' or 'él/ella,' look for a subject noun earlier in the conversation. If the speaker is talking about themselves, it's 'I.' If they are talking about a third party, it's 'He/She/You formal.'