Inklingo
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A simple storybook illustration showing three figures standing together, looking expectantly and slightly forlornly at a completely empty, large wooden bowl on the ground, symbolizing a past, ongoing need.

necesitábamos

neh-seh-see-TAH-bah-mohs

VerbA2regular ar
we needed?as an ongoing state or background action in the past,we used to need?habitual need in the past
Also:we were needing?less common, emphasizes the process of needing

Quick Reference

past Participlenecesitado
infinitivenecesitar
gerundnecesitando

📝 In Action

Necesitábamos más tiempo para terminar el proyecto.

A2

We needed more time to finish the project.

Cuando éramos niños, siempre necesitábamos dinero para comprar dulces.

B1

When we were kids, we always needed money to buy candy.

El coche no funcionaba bien y necesitábamos uno nuevo urgentemente.

B2

The car wasn't working well, and we urgently needed a new one.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • requeríamos (we required)
  • precisábamos (we needed/specified)

Antonyms

  • sobrábamos (we had plenty left over)

Common Collocations

  • Necesitábamos ayuda – We needed help
  • Necesitábamos un cambio – We needed a change

💡 Grammar Points

The 'We' Past Tense

This form, 'necesitábamos,' means 'we needed' and is specific to the 'nosotros' (we) group. The accent mark on the 'á' helps you pronounce it correctly.

When to Use -ábamos

Use this verb ending when talking about needs that lasted a long time, happened repeatedly, or were the background setting for another event in the past.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Imperfect vs. Preterite

Mistake: "Usando 'Necesitamos' (Preterite) cuando se refiere a un estado continuo."

Correction: Use 'necesitábamos' (Imperfect) for ongoing needs, like 'We needed money every day.' Use 'necesitamos' (preterite) only for a single, completed past action, like 'We needed (and got) the key quickly.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Focus on the Context

If you are describing what life was like or how things were, the imperfect tense (necesitábamos) is almost always the right choice.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

vosotrosnecesitáis
él/ella/ustednecesita
túnecesitas
yonecesito
nosotrosnecesitamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitan

preterite

vosotrosnecesitasteis
él/ella/ustednecesitó
túnecesitaste
yonecesité
nosotrosnecesitamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitaron

imperfect

vosotrosnecesitabais
él/ella/ustednecesitaba
túnecesitabas
yonecesitaba
nosotrosnecesitábamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitaban

subjunctive

present

vosotrosnecesitéis
él/ella/ustednecesite
túnecesites
yonecesite
nosotrosnecesitemos
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesiten

imperfect

vosotrosnecesitarais/necesitaseis
él/ella/ustednecesitara/necesitase
túnecesitaras/necesitases
yonecesitara/necesitase
nosotrosnecesitáramos/necesitásemos
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitaran/necesitasen
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: necesitábamos

Question 1 of 1

Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Cuando vivíamos allí, necesitábamos un mapa'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'necesitábamos' and 'necesitamos' (preterite)?

'Necesitábamos' (imperfect) describes a need that was ongoing, habitual, or the background setting in the past ('We needed water every day'). 'Necesitamos' (preterite) describes a need that started and ended quickly in the past ('We needed water right then, and we got it').

Why does 'necesitábamos' have an accent mark?

The accent mark on the 'á' is essential for pronunciation. It tells you to put the stress on that third-to-last syllable: ne-ce-si-TÁ-ba-mos. This is a rule for all 'nosotros' forms in the imperfect tense for -ar verbs.