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Conjugation Chart

“Quejar” (to complain) in the Imperfect Tense

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Understanding the Imperfect Tense of “Quejar”

The Imperfect Tense of quejar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example: Me quejaba de los ruidos de la construcción. (I was complaining about the construction noises.)

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

How to Use Quejar in the Imperfect Tense

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

To complain or express dissatisfaction: For example, Siempre se quejaba de los precios altos. (He was always complaining about the high prices.)

To lament or grieve: For example, Se quejaba por la pérdida de su mascota. (She was grieving over the loss of her pet.)

To express physical pain: For example, El paciente se quejaba de dolores intensos. (The patient was complaining of intense pains.)

To make a formal complaint (colloquial): For example, Siempre se quejaba con el jefe por las condiciones laborales. (He was always complaining to the boss about the working conditions.)

To whine or complain excessively (rude): For example, Ese niño se quejaba por todo. (That kid was whining about everything.)

Real Life Examples of Quejar in the Imperfect Tense

Yo me quejaba de los precios altos en el restaurante. (I was complaining about the high prices at the restaurant.)

Ella se quejaba constantemente del ruido de la construcción. (She was constantly complaining about the noise from the construction.)

Nosotros nos quejábamos del mal servicio en el hotel. (We were complaining about the poor service at the hotel.)

Ellos se quejaban de que el aire acondicionado no funcionaba bien. (They were complaining that the air conditioning wasn’t working well.)

Tú te quejabas de que tu jefe era muy exigente. (You were complaining that your boss was too demanding.)

Mi amigo se quejaba de dolores de espalda después de levantar cajas pesadas. (My friend was complaining of back pain after lifting heavy boxes.)

La anciana se quejaba de que los jóvenes no respetaban a sus mayores. (The elderly woman was complaining that young people didn’t respect their elders.)

Los vecinos se quejaban del ruido de la fiesta que duró toda la noche. (The neighbors were complaining about the noise from the party that lasted all night.)

Yo me quejaba de que mi salario no era suficiente para cubrir mis gastos. (I was complaining that my salary wasn’t enough to cover my expenses.)

Ellas se quejaban de que el transporte público era muy lento e ineficiente. (They were complaining that public transportation was very slow and inefficient.)

Tú te quejabas de que tu pareja no te prestaba suficiente atención. (You were complaining that your partner wasn’t paying you enough attention.)

Él se quejaba de que su equipo de fútbol perdió el partido por culpa del árbitro. (He was complaining that his soccer team lost the match because of the referee.)

Nosotros nos quejábamos de que el clima era demasiado caluroso y húmedo. (We were complaining that the weather was too hot and humid.)

La gente se quejaba de que los impuestos eran demasiado altos. (People were complaining that taxes were too high.)

Mis padres se quejaban de que yo no los visitaba lo suficiente. (My parents were complaining that I didn’t visit them enough.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Quejar (to complain) in the Imperfect 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.