temía
te-MÍ-a
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Yo temía a la oscuridad cuando era pequeña.
A2I used to fear the dark when I was little.
Ella temía que el examen fuera muy difícil.
B1She feared that the exam would be very difficult.
Él siempre temía hablar en público, pero lo hacía.
B2He always feared speaking in public, but he did it.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense (El Imperfecto)
This form of the verb shows an action that was ongoing, habitual, or setting the scene in the past. Think of it as 'I used to fear' or 'I was fearing.'
Temer and Subjunctive
When you use 'temer' to express fear about something that might happen or might be true (using 'que'), the next verb often needs the special verb form called the subjunctive: 'Temía que lloviera.' (I feared that it would rain).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'Yo temí' when you mean a continuous state."
Correction: Use 'Yo temía' to describe the ongoing feeling or state of fear. 'Yo temí' (preterite) means 'I feared (once)' or 'I suddenly became afraid'—a single, completed moment.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
Since 'temía' can mean 'I feared' or 'He/She/You formal feared,' listen closely to the context or look for the subject pronoun (Yo, Él, Ella, Usted) to know who is doing the action.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: temía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'temía' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'temía' means 'I feared' or 'He/She feared'?
You need to look at the context. If you don't see the pronoun (Yo, Él, Ella, Usted), the surrounding sentences or the conversation will usually make the subject clear. For example, if the previous sentence mentioned 'Mi jefe' (My boss), then 'temía' refers to him.
Is 'temer' a stem-changing verb?
No, *temer* is a regular -er verb in all of its main tenses, including the present, preterite, and imperfect, which makes it easier to conjugate than many other common verbs.