Pagar imperfect conjugation
Pagar in the imperfect: pagaba, pagabas, pagaba, pagábamos, pagabais, pagaban.
- to pay; to pay for
- spelling change (g→gu)
- Participle: pagado
- Gerund: pagando
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | pagaba |
|---|---|
| tú | pagabas |
| él/ella/usted | pagaba |
| nosotros | pagábamos |
| vosotros | pagabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | pagaban |
How to use pagar in the imperfect
The imperfect is regular: pagaba, pagabas, pagaba, pagábamos, pagaban. Use it for regular payments in the past (rent, salaries, bills) and for background. Me pagaban is the natural way to talk about how much a previous job paid: Me pagaban por hora. It is also common when comparing prices now with prices years ago.
Examples
En el restaurante me pagaban por hora más las propinas.
At the restaurant they paid me by the hour plus tips.
Antes pagábamos mucho menos de luz.
We used to pay much less for electricity.
Mi padre siempre pagaba todo en efectivo.
My father always paid for everything in cash.
Quick check: pagar in the imperfect
More pagar tenses
- All pagar tenses
- Pagar present
- Pagar preterite
- Pagar future
- Pagar conditional
- Pagar present subjunctive
- Pagar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the imperfect
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