The Imperfect Tense of cerrar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Cerraba la puerta todas las noches antes de ir a dormir. (I used to close the door every night before going to bed.)

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

Conjugations

Conjugations of Cerrar (to close) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

The imperfect tense of cerrar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, as well as descriptions and states of being.

Closing or shutting something: Por ejemplo, cada noche cerraba las ventanas antes de ir a dormir. (For example, every night I closed the windows before going to sleep.)

Ending or finishing something: Por ejemplo, el restaurante cerraba a las 11 de la noche. (For example, the restaurant closed at 11 pm.)

Blocking or obstructing: Por ejemplo, la policía cerraba la calle durante las manifestaciones. (For example, the police closed off the street during protests.)

Colloquially, to stop talking or shut up: Por ejemplo, ¡cierra la boca y escucha! (For example, shut your mouth and listen!)

Examples

Examples of Cerrar in the Imperfect Tense

Cuando era niño, cerraba los ojos e imaginaba ser un superhéroe. (When I was a child, I closed my eyes and imagined being a superhero.)

Mi abuela cerraba la puerta con llave todas las noches. (My grandmother locked the door every night.)

El mesero cerraba el restaurante a la medianoche. (The waiter closed the restaurant at midnight.)

Ustedes cerraban las ventanas cuando hacía frío. (You closed the windows when it was cold.)

Ella cerraba los ojos y contaba hasta diez para calmarse. (She closed her eyes and counted to ten to calm down.)

Nosotros cerrábamos la tienda temprano los domingos. (We closed the store early on Sundays.)

Tú cerrabas el libro después de leer un capítulo. (You closed the book after reading a chapter.)

Ellos cerraban el negocio durante las vacaciones. (They closed the business during the holidays.)

Yo cerraba la aplicación cuando terminaba de usarla. (I closed the app when I was done using it.)

Vosotros cerrabais las cortinas por la noche. (You closed the curtains at night.)

Ella cerraba su laptop después de trabajar. (She closed her laptop after working.)

Nosotros cerrábamos el bar a las 2 a.m. (We closed the bar at 2 a.m.)

Tú cerrabas el paraguas cuando dejaba de llover. (You closed the umbrella when it stopped raining.)

Ellos cerraban la oficina los fines de semana. (They closed the office on weekends.)

Yo cerraba los ojos y hacía una wish cuando soplaba las velitas. (I closed my eyes and made a wish when blowing out the candles.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Cerrar (to close) 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.