significaba
sig-ni-fi-CA-ba
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
No entendía qué significaba esa palabra en el texto antiguo.
A2I didn't understand what that word meant in the old text.
Para mis abuelos, ese anillo significaba toda una vida de amor.
B1For my grandparents, that ring represented a whole lifetime of love.
Cuando era niño, la Navidad significaba mucha nieve y regalos.
B1When I was a child, Christmas meant a lot of snow and presents (habitual meaning).
💡 Grammar Points
Imperfect Tense Usage
You use 'significaba' (Imperfect tense) to describe an ongoing state or meaning in the past, or something that happened repeatedly. Think of it as 'it used to mean' or 'it was meaning.'
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Use 'significaba' (Imperfect) for descriptions or background. Use 'significó' (Preterite) only if the meaning changed or began/ended at a specific moment.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong past tense
Mistake: "La bandera significó la paz (The flag meant peace)."
Correction: La bandera significaba la paz. (The flag *represented* peace). Use 'significó' only if the flag's meaning was a single, completed event, which is rare for this verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Description
If you are describing a state, feeling, or definition that existed for a long time in the past, 'significaba' is almost always the correct choice.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: significaba
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'significaba' to describe a past state?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use 'significaba' instead of 'significó'?
'Significaba' (Imperfect) is for describing what something meant over a period of time or what it habitually represented. 'Significó' (Preterite) is reserved for a single, completed moment when something was defined or when its meaning changed abruptly. If the meaning was a background fact in the past, use 'significaba'.
Who is 'significaba' referring to?
'Significaba' can refer to 'yo' (I), 'él/ella' (he/she), or 'usted' (you, formal). However, because the verb 'significar' usually takes a thing or concept as its subject (e.g., 'el libro,' 'la idea'), it is most often used in the 3rd person singular ('it meant').