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Conjugation Chart

“Llorar” (to cry) in the Imperfect Tense

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Understanding the Imperfect Tense of “Llorar”

The Imperfect Tense of llorar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example: Cuando era niño, lloraba mucho. (When I was a child, I used to cry a lot.)

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

How to Use Llorar in the Imperfect Tense

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

Expressing an ongoing action in the past: For example, Cuando era niño, lloraba mucho. (When I was a child, I used to cry a lot.)

Describing repeated or habitual actions in the past: For example, Cada vez que veía esa película, lloraba. (Every time I watched that movie, I would cry.)

Expressing emotions, states, or descriptions in the past: For example, Lloraba de felicidad al ver a mi familia. (I cried with happiness when I saw my family.)

Idiomatic expressions: For example, Llorar a mares (to cry a lot), Llorar como una Magdalena (to cry profusely), Llorar sobre la leche derramada (to cry over spilled milk, meaning to dwell on something that cannot be changed).

Slang or rude usage: For example, Lloraba como una nena (he/she cried like a little girl, used in a derogatory way), No llores, marica (don’t cry, faggot, an offensive expression).

Real Life Examples of Llorar in the Imperfect Tense

Cuando era niño, lloraba cada vez que veía una película triste. (When I was a child, I would cry every time I saw a sad movie.)

Mi hermana lloraba de felicidad en su boda. (My sister cried tears of joy at her wedding.)

Él lloraba por las noches, extrañando a su familia. (He would cry at night, missing his family.)

Vosotros llorabais de risa con las bromas de vuestro amigo. (You all would cry with laughter at your friend’s jokes.)

Ellas lloraban de emoción al ver a su ídolo en el concierto. (They cried with emotion when they saw their idol at the concert.)

Yo lloraba cada vez que cortaba cebollas. (I would cry every time I cut onions.)

Tú llorabas de frustración cuando no podías resolver el problema. (You would cry out of frustration when you couldn’t solve the problem.)

Nosotros llorábamos de la risa con las anécdotas de nuestro abuelo. (We would cry with laughter at our grandfather’s anecdotes.)

Ustedes lloraban de alegría cuando ganaban un partido importante. (You would cry tears of joy when you won an important game.)

Ella lloraba cada vez que escuchaba esa canción que le recordaba a su primer amor. (She would cry every time she heard that song that reminded her of her first love.)

El bebé lloraba sin parar, y sus padres no sabían qué hacer. (The baby wouldn’t stop crying, and its parents didn’t know what to do.)

Vosotros llorabais de la risa con las ocurrencias de vuestro amigo. (You all would cry with laughter at your friend’s antics.)

Ellos lloraban de emoción al ver a sus hijos graduarse. (They cried with emotion when they saw their children graduate.)

Yo lloraba cada vez que tenía que despedirme de mis seres queridos. (I would cry every time I had to say goodbye to my loved ones.)

Tú llorabas de felicidad cuando conseguiste tu primer trabajo. (You cried tears of joy when you got your first job.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Llorar (to cry) in the Imperfect 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.