tocaba
/toh-KAH-bah/
was touching
The child was touching the cloud.
tocaba(verb)
was touching
?continuous action in the past
,used to touch
?habitual action in the past
was feeling
?sense of touch
,was knocking
?at a door
📝 In Action
Ella siempre tocaba las flores en el jardín.
A1She always used to touch the flowers in the garden.
Cuando era niño, tocaba la pared para asegurarse de que estaba allí.
A2When I was a child, I was touching (or used to touch) the wall to make sure it was there.
Alguien tocaba a la puerta cuando llegamos.
B1Someone was knocking at the door when we arrived.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense (Continuous Past)
As an imperfect tense form, 'tocaba' describes an action (touching) that was ongoing, repeated, or habitual in the past, without a definite end point.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'tocó' (preterite) when describing a habit: 'Él tocó la guitarra cada día.'"
Correction: Use 'tocaba' (imperfect) for habits: 'Él tocaba la guitarra cada día.' (He used to play the guitar every day.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Childhood
Use 'tocaba' frequently when talking about things you or someone else habitually did as a child or during a specific period of time.
The bear was playing the violin.
tocaba(verb)
was playing
?a musical instrument
,used to play
?a musical instrument habitually
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo tocaba el piano todos los domingos.
A1My grandfather used to play the piano every Sunday.
Ella tocaba la guitarra cuando la conocí.
A2She was playing the guitar when I met her.
💡 Grammar Points
No Preposition Needed
Unlike English ('play the piano'), Spanish uses the verb 'tocar' directly with the instrument ('tocar el piano') without a preposition.
It was the rabbit's turn to receive the treat.
tocaba(verb)
it was my/his/her turn
?duty or sequence
,was supposed to
?obligation
was up to
?responsibility
,was necessary
?impersonal obligation
📝 In Action
Me tocaba a mí lavar los platos anoche.
B1It was my turn to wash the dishes last night.
Tocaba ir al médico, pero lo pospusimos.
B2It was necessary to go to the doctor, but we postponed it. (Literally: It touched to go...)
A ella le tocaba recibir el premio.
B2It was her turn (or her due) to receive the prize.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'tocar' for Turns
When 'tocar' means 'it's a turn/duty,' it is often used impersonally (like 'gustar') with the indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, etc.) to show who has the turn.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Direct Translation Error
Mistake: "Saying 'Yo tocaba' to mean 'It was my turn.'"
Correction: You must use the third-person singular and the indirect pronoun: 'Me tocaba a mí.' (The action/turn was touching me.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tocaba
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best describes the meaning of 'Me tocaba ir al dentista'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If I want to say 'He touched the hot stove once,' should I use 'tocaba'?
No. 'Tocaba' is for repeated or continuous actions. For a single, finished action like touching the stove once, you must use the Preterite tense: 'Él tocó la estufa caliente.'
How do I know if 'tocaba' means 'touching' or 'playing music'?
Context is key! If an instrument (like 'guitarra' or 'piano') is mentioned, it means 'playing.' If a body part or surface is mentioned (like 'la mesa' or 'la cara'), it means 'touching.'