Explicar imperfect conjugation
Explicar in the imperfect: explicaba, explicabas, explicaba, explicábamos, explicabais, explicaban.
- to explain
- spelling change (c→qu)
- Participle: explicado
- Gerund: explicando
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | explicaba |
|---|---|
| tú | explicabas |
| él/ella/usted | explicaba |
| nosotros | explicábamos |
| vosotros | explicabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | explicaban |
How to use explicar in the imperfect
The imperfect is fully regular: explicaba, explicabas, explicaba, explicábamos, explicaban. Use it for background and habits in the past: how a teacher used to explain things, or what someone was explaining when they were interrupted. It also appears in reported speech, as in Me dijo que explicaba todo en el informe.
Examples
Mientras explicaba el plan, se cortó la videollamada.
While I was explaining the plan, the video call cut out.
Mi abuelo nos explicaba la historia del pueblo cada verano.
My grandfather used to explain the town's history to us every summer.
El manual no explicaba nada sobre la garantía.
The manual didn't explain anything about the warranty.
Quick check: explicar in the imperfect
More explicar tenses
- All explicar tenses
- Explicar present
- Explicar preterite
- Explicar future
- Explicar conditional
- Explicar present subjunctive
- Explicar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the imperfect
Know your verbs, now find your level
Take a free placement test and get your CEFR level, then follow the grammar lessons that fit it.