The Imperfect Tense of Permitir is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example: Mis padres no me permitían salir tarde cuando era joven. (My parents didn’t allow me to go out late when I was young.)
Permitir is a regular -ir verb, so its conjugations in the Imperfect Tense follow the standard pattern for this verb type.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Permitir (to permit) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | permitía |
| Tú | permitías |
| Él / Ella / Usted | permitía |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | permitíamos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | permitían |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Permitir (to permit) in the Imperfect Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Permitir in the Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense of permitir is used to describe ongoing, repeated or habitual actions in the past.
Allowing or permitting: For example, Mis padres no me permitían salir tarde. (My parents didn’t allow me to go out late.) This meaning conveys granting permission or giving consent for something to happen.
Enabling or making possible: For example, El buen clima nos permitía hacer caminatas. (The good weather enabled us to go for walks.) This usage implies creating favorable conditions for an action or event.
Tolerating or putting up with (colloquial): For example, ¿Cómo permitiste que te tratara así? (How did you allow them to treat you like that?) In this sense, it suggests enduring or accepting something undesirable.
Letting something happen (idiomatic): For example, No permitas que te afecte tanto. (Don’t let it affect you so much.) This idiomatic usage implies allowing a situation or feeling to occur or continue.
Examples
Examples of Permitir in the Imperfect Tense
Mis padres permitían que jugara con mis amigos hasta tarde. (My parents allowed me to play with my friends until late.)
El profesor permitía el uso de calculadoras durante los exámenes. (The teacher allowed the use of calculators during exams.)
La policía permitía el paso de los peatones en el cruce peatonal. (The police allowed pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk.)
El dueño del restaurante permitía que los clientes fumaran en la terraza. (The restaurant owner allowed customers to smoke on the patio.)
Mi jefe permitía que trabajáramos desde casa los viernes. (My boss allowed us to work from home on Fridays.)
La mamá permitía que sus hijos vieran una hora de televisión al día. (The mom allowed her kids to watch one hour of TV per day.)
El guardia de seguridad permitía la entrada solo a las personas autorizadas. (The security guard only allowed authorized people to enter.)
El entrenador permitía que los jugadores descansaran durante los entrenamientos. (The coach allowed the players to rest during practice.)
La aerolínea permitía llevar una maleta de mano sin costo adicional. (The airline allowed one carry-on bag at no additional cost.)
El conserje permitía que los huéspedes del hotel usaran la piscina hasta las 10 p.m. (The concierge allowed hotel guests to use the pool until 10 p.m.)
La maestra permitía que los estudiantes comieran bocadillos saludables durante la clase. (The teacher allowed students to eat healthy snacks during class.)
El portero permitía la entrada al edificio solo a los residentes. (The doorman only allowed residents to enter the building.)
Mi hermana permitía que sus hijos jugaran videojuegos por una hora al día. (My sister allowed her kids to play video games for one hour a day.)
El gerente permitía que los empleados usaran los audífonos mientras trabajaban. (The manager allowed employees to wear headphones while working.)
El dueño del gimnasio permitía que los clientes trajeran su propia toalla y botella de agua. (The gym owner allowed customers to bring their own towel and water bottle.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Permitir (to permit) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo permitía | I was permitting |
| Tú permitías | You were permitting |
| Él / Ella / Usted permitía | He / She / You was permitting |
| Nosotros / Nosotras permitíamos | We were permitting |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes permitían | They / You all were permitting |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian 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.