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Conjugation Chart

“Probar” (to try) in the Imperfect Tense

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Understanding the Imperfect Tense of “Probar”

The Imperfect Tense of probar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Probaba la comida antes de servirla. (I used to taste the food before serving it.)

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

How to Use Probar in the Imperfect Tense

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

To try or taste something: For example, Probaba el vino antes de comprarlo. (I used to try the wine before buying it.)

To experience or attempt something: For example, Probaba a aprender español. (I was trying to learn Spanish.)

To test or check something: For example, Probaba la nueva receta. (I was testing the new recipe.)

To fit or try on clothes: For example, Me probaba los pantalones antes de comprarlos. (I used to try on the pants before buying them.)

To have a taste or sample of something: For example, Probaba un poco de cada plato. (I was tasting a bit of each dish.)

Colloquially, to try one’s luck or take a chance: For example, Probaba suerte en el casino. (I was trying my luck at the casino.)

Real Life Examples of Probar in the Imperfect Tense

Yo probaba la comida antes de servirla para asegurarme de que estuviera bien sazonada. (I used to taste the food before serving it to make sure it was well-seasoned.)

Cuando era niño, probaba diferentes deportes para ver cuál me gustaba más. (When I was a child, I tried different sports to see which one I liked the most.)

En la fiesta, probábamos todos los platillos que ofrecían. (At the party, we tried all the dishes they offered.)

Antes de comprar un carro nuevo, probaba diferentes modelos para ver cuál se adaptaba mejor a mis necesidades. (Before buying a new car, I test drove different models to see which one best suited my needs.)

Cuando probábamos la nueva receta, no nos gustó el sabor. (When we tried the new recipe, we didn’t like the taste.)

Ella probaba diferentes looks antes de salir, para verse bien. (She tried on different outfits before going out, to look good.)

Vosotros probabais la paciencia del profesor con vuestras constantes interrupciones. (You (plural) used to test the teacher’s patience with your constant interruptions.)

Ellos probaban suerte en el casino, pero nunca ganaban mucho. (They tried their luck at the casino, but never won much.)

Tú probabas diferentes técnicas de estudio para ver cuál te funcionaba mejor. (You tried different study techniques to see which one worked best for you.)

Nosotros probábamos nuevos restaurantes cada fin de semana. (We tried new restaurants every weekend.)

Ella probaba diferentes peinados antes de decidirse por uno. (She tried different hairstyles before deciding on one.)

Ustedes probaban la paciencia de sus padres con su mal comportamiento. (You (plural) used to test your parents’ patience with your misbehavior.)

Yo probaba diferentes estrategias de ventas para ver cuál era la más efectiva. (I tried different sales strategies to see which one was the most effective.)

Ellas probaban diferentes looks de maquillaje antes de salir. (They tried different makeup looks before going out.)

Tú probabas diferentes hobbies para encontrar uno que te apasionara. (You tried different hobbies to find one you were passionate about.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Probar (to try) 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.