odiaba
oh-dee-AH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Yo odiaba las verduras cuando era niño.
A2I used to hate vegetables when I was a kid.
Ella odiaba la lluvia, por eso se mudó al sur.
B1She hated the rain; that’s why she moved south.
Mi perro odiaba quedarse solo, siempre lloraba.
A2My dog hated being left alone; he always cried.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense (El Imperfecto)
The form 'odiaba' describes an action or feeling that was ongoing, habitual, or descriptive in the past. Think of it as 'used to hate' or 'was hating.'
Who is 'Odiaba'?
This verb form can mean 'I hated' (yo) or 'He/She/It hated' (él/ella). You usually need the context or the subject pronoun (like 'yo' or 'ella') to know who is performing the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'odié' (preterite) when describing a long-term feeling."
Correction: Use 'odiaba' (imperfect) for feelings that lasted a long time or were habitual. 'Odié' would mean the hatred started and ended suddenly at a specific moment.
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
'Odiaba' is perfect for setting the background or mood in a story, describing how things were before something specific happened.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: odiaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'odiaba' to describe a past habit?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'odiaba' means 'I' or 'He/She'?
You need context! Since the 'yo' (I) and 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal) forms are identical in the imperfect tense, you must look at the subject pronoun used, or the surrounding sentences, to determine who is doing the action.
Is 'odiaba' used for describing feelings or events?
'Odiaba' is primarily used for describing feelings, states of mind, and continuous or habitual actions in the past. For sudden, one-time events, you would use the preterite form, 'odió' or 'odié'.