The Imperfect Tense of Contestar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example: Yo contestaba las preguntas en clase. (I was answering the questions in class.)

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

Conjugations

Conjugations of Contestar (to answer) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

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

Answering or responding: For example, Cuando era niño, siempre contestaba las preguntas de la maestra con entusiasmo. (When I was a child, I always answered the teacher’s questions enthusiastically.)

Replying or retorting: For example, Ella me gritó y yo le contesté con enojo. (She yelled at me and I retorted angrily.)

Talking back or being rude (colloquial): For example, El niño le contestó a su madre de mala manera. (The child talked back to his mother rudely.)

Responding to a call or message: For example, Siempre contestaba el teléfono con prontitud. (I always answered the phone promptly.)

Examples

Examples of Contestar in the Imperfect Tense

Yo contestaba las llamadas telefónicas en la oficina. (I used to answer the phone calls at the office.)

Ella contestaba las preguntas de los clientes con mucha paciencia. (She would answer the customers’ questions patiently.)

Nosotros contestábamos los correos electrónicos de manera oportuna. (We used to respond to emails promptly.)

Tú contestabas los mensajes de texto con rapidez. (You would reply to text messages quickly.)

Ellos contestaban las encuestas con honestidad. (They would answer the surveys honestly.)

¿Contestabas el teléfono cuando sonaba? (Would you answer the phone when it rang?)

En la clase, contestábamos las preguntas del profesor. (In class, we would answer the teacher’s questions.)

Mis amigos contestaban mis llamadas incluso a altas horas de la noche. (My friends would answer my calls even late at night.)

Cuando era joven, contestaba las cartas de mis familiares con entusiasmo. (When I was young, I would reply to my relatives’ letters enthusiastically.)

En las entrevistas de trabajo, contestaba las preguntas con seguridad. (In job interviews, I would answer the questions confidently.)

Mi hermana contestaba los correos electrónicos de manera informal y relajada. (My sister would reply to emails in an informal and relaxed manner.)

Durante los debates, contestábamos las críticas con argumentos sólidos. (During debates, we would respond to criticisms with solid arguments.)

En las reuniones familiares, contestábamos las preguntas incómodas con tacto. (At family gatherings, we would answer uncomfortable questions tactfully.)

Cuando viajaba, contestaba las preguntas de los lugareños con curiosidad. (When traveling, I would answer the locals’ questions with curiosity.)

En los foros en línea, contestaba las dudas de los usuarios con paciencia. (On online forums, I would answer users’ doubts patiently.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Contestar (to answer) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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.