The Imperfect Tense of echar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Echaba la basura todos los días. (I used to take out the trash every day.)

Echar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the Imperfect Tense follow the typical pattern for that verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Echar (to throw) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

The imperfect tense of echar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.

To throw or toss: For example, Cuando era niño, echaba piedras al río. (When I was a child, I used to throw stones into the river.)

To put or place: For example, Echaba sal a la comida. (I used to put salt on the food.)

To expel or drive out: For example, El dueño echaba a los clientes molestos del bar. (The owner used to kick out the rowdy customers from the bar.)

To lay or produce: For example, Las gallinas echaban huevos todos los días. (The hens used to lay eggs every day.)

To take or have: For example, Echaba una siesta por las tardes. (I used to take a nap in the afternoons.)

To send or dispatch: For example, Echaba cartas al correo. (I used to send letters by mail.)

To blame or accuse: For example, Siempre me echaba la culpa a mí. (He always used to blame me.)

To add or mix: For example, Echaba vino al caldo. (I used to add wine to the broth.)

To start or begin: For example, Echaba a correr cuando sonaba la alarma. (I used to start running when the alarm went off.)

To remove or take off: For example, Echaba la basura a la calle. (I used to take out the trash.)

To spend or pass time: For example, Echaba horas jugando videojuegos. (I used to spend hours playing video games.)

Slang: To flirt or hit on someone: For example, Echaba piropos a las chicas. (I used to flirt with girls.)

Examples

Examples of Echar in the Imperfect Tense

Yo echaba de menos a mi familia cuando viajaba. (I missed my family when I traveled.)

Ella echaba un vistazo a las noticias cada mañana. (She took a look at the news every morning.)

Nosotros echábamos una mano en el jardín los fines de semana. (We lent a hand in the garden on weekends.)

Tú echabas chispas cuando te enojabas. (You were fuming when you got angry.)

Ellos echaban raíces en la nueva ciudad. (They were putting down roots in the new city.)

Vosotros echabais los tejos a las chicas en la fiesta. (You guys were hitting on the girls at the party.)

Ustedes echaban una siesta después del almuerzo. (You took a nap after lunch.)

Él echaba piropos a su novia todo el tiempo. (He was always complimenting his girlfriend.)

Yo echaba de menos los viejos tiempos a veces. (I missed the old times sometimes.)

Tú echabas una carrera contra el tiempo. (You were racing against the clock.)

Nosotros echábamos chistes en la oficina para relajarnos. (We cracked jokes at the office to relax.)

Ellas echaban las cartas para adivinar el futuro. (They were reading tarot cards to predict the future.)

Vosotros echabais una mano a los vecinos con la mudanza. (You guys helped the neighbors with their move.)

Él echaba un vistazo al menú antes de pedir. (He took a look at the menu before ordering.)

Ellos echaban una partida de ajedrez los domingos. (They played a game of chess on Sundays.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Echar (to throw) in the Imperfect Tense 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.