Terminar imperfect conjugation
Terminar in the imperfect: terminaba, terminabas, terminaba, terminábamos, terminabais, terminaban.
- to finish; to end
- regular
- Participle: terminado
- Gerund: terminando
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | terminaba |
|---|---|
| tú | terminabas |
| él/ella/usted | terminaba |
| nosotros | terminábamos |
| vosotros | terminabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | terminaban |
How to use terminar in the imperfect
The imperfect (terminaba, terminabas, terminábamos, terminaban) is regular. It describes how things usually ended in the past (las fiestas siempre terminaban tarde) and actions that were wrapping up when something else happened: cuando terminaba de cenar, sonó el timbre. Use it for background and habits, and switch to the preterite for the moment something actually ended. The nosotros form terminábamos carries a written accent.
Examples
Las fiestas en casa de mis tíos siempre terminaban a las tres de la mañana.
The parties at my aunt and uncle's always ended at three in the morning.
Cuando terminaba de cenar, sonó el timbre.
As I was finishing dinner, the doorbell rang.
En mi trabajo anterior terminábamos a las cuatro los viernes.
At my old job we got off at four on Fridays.
Quick check: terminar in the imperfect
More terminar tenses
- All terminar tenses
- Terminar present
- Terminar preterite
- Terminar future
- Terminar conditional
- Terminar present subjunctive
- Terminar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the imperfect
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