The Imperfect Tense of girar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Yo giraba la llave para abrir la puerta. (I was turning the key to open the door.)
Girar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the Imperfect Tense follow the typical pattern for this verb type.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Girar (to turn) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | giraba |
| Tú | girabas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | giraba |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | girábamos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | giraban |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Girar (to turn) 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 Girar in the Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense of girar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
Rotating or spinning: Por ejemplo, las aspas del molino giraban lentamente (The windmill blades were slowly rotating). This can also be used figuratively, like las ideas giraban en mi mente (ideas were spinning in my mind).
Turning or changing direction: For example, el coche giró a la izquierda en la esquina (the car turned left at the corner). Colloquially, it can mean changing topics, like la conversación giró hacia temas más ligeros (the conversation turned to lighter topics).
Revolving or circulating: For example, el dinero giraba de mano en mano (the money circulated from hand to hand). In some regions, it can mean being drunk or high, like después de tantas cervezas, estaba girando (after so many beers, he was wasted).
Transferring or sending money: For example, le giré el dinero por transferencia bancaria (I sent them the money by bank transfer). In some areas, it can vulgarly mean having sex, like anoche la giré con mi novia (I screwed my girlfriend last night).
Examples
Examples of Girar in the Imperfect Tense
Cuando era niño, giraba sin parar en los columpios del parque. (When I was a child, I spun non-stop on the swings at the park.)
El ventilador giraba lentamente debido al calor sofocante. (The fan spun slowly due to the stifling heat.)
La Tierra giraba alrededor del Sol, como lo hace cada año. (The Earth spun around the Sun, as it does every year.)
Mis pensamientos giraban sin control mientras esperaba los resultados. (My thoughts spun out of control while I waited for the results.)
La conversación giraba en torno a los últimos acontecimientos políticos. (The conversation revolved around the latest political events.)
El DJ giraba los discos con destreza en la fiesta. (The DJ spun the records skillfully at the party.)
La rueda de la fortuna giraba lentamente mientras todos contenían la respiración. (The wheel of fortune spun slowly while everyone held their breath.)
El rumor giraba rápidamente por todo el vecindario. (The rumor spread quickly throughout the neighborhood.)
La bailarina giraba grácilmente sobre la punta de sus pies. (The ballerina spun gracefully on the tips of her toes.)
Las ideas giraban en mi mente mientras buscaba inspiración para mi próximo proyecto. (Ideas spun in my mind as I sought inspiration for my next project.)
El trompo giraba velozmente en el suelo después de que lo lancé. (The top spun rapidly on the ground after I launched it.)
La conversación giraba en círculos sin llegar a ninguna conclusión. (The conversation spun in circles without reaching any conclusion.)
El remolino giraba furiosamente en el río durante la tormenta. (The whirlpool spun furiously in the river during the storm.)
La calesita giraba alegremente mientras los niños reían y gritaban. (The merry-go-round spun merrily as the children laughed and shouted.)
El mundo giraba a un ritmo frenético, pero yo intentaba mantener la calma. (The world spun at a frantic pace, but I tried to remain calm.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Girar (to turn) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo giraba | I was turning |
| Tú girabas | You were turning |
| Él / Ella / Usted giraba | He / She / You was turning |
| Nosotros / Nosotras girábamos | We were turning |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes giraban | They / You all were turning |
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.