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Conjugation Chart

“Devolver” (to return (something)) in the Imperfect Tense

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Understanding the Imperfect Tense of “Devolver”

The Imperfect Tense of devolver is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Devolvía los libros a la biblioteca cada semana. (I used to return the books to the library every week.)

Devolver is a regular -er verb, so its conjugations in the Imperfect Tense follow the regular pattern for this verb type.

How to Use Devolver in the Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense of devolver is used to describe continuous or repeated actions in the past, as well as descriptions and states of being.

Returning or giving back: For example, Cuando era niño, siempre devolvía los juguetes a su lugar después de jugar. (When I was a child, I always put the toys back in their place after playing.)

Undoing or reversing: For example, El técnico devolvía la configuración del router a sus valores predeterminados. (The technician was resetting the router’s configuration to its default values.)

Reflecting or bouncing back: For example, El espejo devolvía una imagen distorsionada. (The mirror reflected a distorted image.)

Replying or responding: For example, Siempre devolvía los saludos con una sonrisa. (I always returned greetings with a smile.)

Repaying or giving back: For example, Devolvía el dinero que me prestaban poco a poco. (I paid back the money they lent me little by little.)

Real Life Examples of Devolver in the Imperfect Tense

Yo devolvía los libros a la biblioteca cada mes. (I returned the books to the library every month.)

Ellos devolvían las llaves al conserje antes de irse. (They returned the keys to the janitor before leaving.)

Tú devolvías la ropa que no te quedaba bien a la tienda. (You returned the clothes that didn’t fit you to the store.)

Nosotros devolvíamos los envases vacíos para reciclar. (We returned the empty containers to recycle.)

Vosotros devolvíais los libros de texto al final del curso. (You returned the textbooks at the end of the course.)

Ella devolvía los regalos que no le gustaban con discreción. (She returned the gifts she didn’t like discreetly.)

Ustedes devolvían los platos sucios al restaurante después de comer. (You returned the dirty dishes to the restaurant after eating.)

Yo devolvía las llamadas perdidas cuando tenía tiempo. (I returned the missed calls when I had time.)

Ellas devolvían los favores que les hacían los demás. (They returned the favors that others did for them.)

Tú devolvías el cambio exacto en las tiendas. (You gave back the exact change in stores.)

Nosotros devolvíamos los saludos con una sonrisa. (We returned greetings with a smile.)

Vosotros devolvíais los cumplidos con humildad. (You returned compliments with humility.)

Él devolvía los abrazos con cariño. (He returned hugs with affection.)

Ustedes devolvían los objetos perdidos a sus dueños. (You returned lost items to their owners.)

Ellos devolvían los golpes en defensa propia. (They returned blows in self-defense.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Devolver (to return (something)) in the Imperfect Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperfect tense is also known as the Past Imperfect, Descriptive Past, Past Progressive, or Imperfect Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Copretérito, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Descriptivo in Spanish.