The Imperfect Tense of desear is used to express ongoing or repeated desires in the past. For example, Deseaba aprender español cuando era joven. (I used to desire to learn Spanish when I was young.)

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

Conjugations

Conjugations of Desear (to wish, desire) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

The imperfect tense of desear is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual desires in the past.

Expressing an ongoing desire in the past: For example, Deseaba aprender español cuando era joven. (I desired to learn Spanish when I was young.)

Expressing a repeated or habitual desire in the past: For example, De niño, deseaba tener un perro. (As a child, I used to desire to have a dog.)

Expressing a polite desire or wish: For example, Deseaba pedirle un favor. (I wished to ask you a favor.)

Expressing a desire that was not fulfilled: For example, Deseaba ir a la fiesta, pero no pude. (I desired to go to the party, but I couldn’t.)

Expressing a desire for something hypothetical or imaginary: For example, Deseaba ser invisible por un día. (I desired to be invisible for a day.)

Expressing a desire in a polite or formal context: For example, Deseaba hablar con usted sobre un asunto importante. (I desired to speak with you about an important matter.)

Examples

Examples of Desear in the Imperfect Tense

Yo deseaba viajar al extranjero cuando era joven. (I wanted to travel abroad when I was young.)

Ella deseaba aprender a tocar la guitarra, pero nunca tuvo tiempo. (She wanted to learn to play the guitar, but she never had time.)

Nosotros deseábamos tener un perro cuando éramos niños. (We wanted to have a dog when we were kids.)

Tú deseabas ser médico de pequeño, ¿verdad? (You wanted to be a doctor when you were little, right?)

Vosotros deseabais salir con vuestros amigos todos los fines de semana. (You guys wanted to go out with your friends every weekend.)

Ellos deseaban comprar una casa grande para su familia. (They wanted to buy a big house for their family.)

Ustedes deseaban viajar a la playa el verano pasado, ¿no? (You wanted to travel to the beach last summer, didn’t you?)

Yo deseaba con ganas tener un auto deportivo cuando era adolescente. (I really wanted to have a sports car when I was a teenager.)

Ella deseaba cambiar de trabajo, pero tenía miedo. (She wanted to change jobs, but she was afraid.)

Nosotros deseábamos ganar la lotería para no tener que trabajar más. (We wanted to win the lottery so we wouldn’t have to work anymore.)

Tú deseabas ser un gran artista cuando eras niño, ¿no es así? (You wanted to be a great artist when you were a kid, didn’t you?)

Vosotros deseabais ir de vacaciones a un lugar exótico el año pasado. (You guys wanted to go on vacation to an exotic place last year.)

Ellos deseaban tener un negocio propio desde hace mucho tiempo. (They had wanted to have their own business for a long time.)

Ustedes deseaban aprender a cocinar platillos gourmet, ¿verdad? (You wanted to learn to cook gourmet dishes, didn’t you?)

Yo deseaba con locura ser famoso cuando era joven. (I crazily wanted to be famous when I was young.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Desear (to wish, desire) 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.