The Imperfect Tense of usar is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Usaba el ordenador para hacer mis tareas. (I used the computer to do my homework.)

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

Conjugations

Conjugations of Usar (to use) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

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

Habitual or repeated action in the past: For example, De niño usaba mucho el parque para jugar. (As a child, I used to play a lot in the park.)

Ongoing action in the past: For example, Usaba el ordenador cuando entró mi madre. (I was using the computer when my mother came in.)

Description in the past: For example, Mi abuela usaba gafas y caminaba con bastón. (My grandmother used to wear glasses and walk with a cane.)

Colloquial usage: For example, ¡Usaba unas pintas de miedo! (He was dressed so weirdly!)

Examples

Examples of Usar in the Imperfect Tense

Yo usaba el teléfono para llamar a mis amigos. (I used the phone to call my friends.)

Ellos usaban la computadora para trabajar. (They used the computer to work.)

Tú usabas mucho el diccionario cuando estudiabas español. (You used the dictionary a lot when you studied Spanish.)

Nosotros usábamos el coche para ir al trabajo. (We used the car to go to work.)

¿Usabas el microondas para calentar la comida? (Did you use the microwave to heat up food?)

Vosotros usabais el autobús para ir al centro comercial. (You all used the bus to go to the mall.)

Ella usaba el lápiz labial rojo para resaltar sus labios. (She used red lipstick to highlight her lips.)

Ustedes usaban las servilletas de tela en las cenas formales. (You all used cloth napkins at formal dinners.)

¿Por qué usabas tanto el traductor en línea? (Why did you use the online translator so much?)

Mis abuelos usaban la máquina de escribir para redactar cartas. (My grandparents used the typewriter to write letters.)

Cuando éramos niños, usábamos los lápices de colores para dibujar. (When we were kids, we used colored pencils to draw.)

En la oficina, usábamos las carpetas para organizar los documentos. (At the office, we used folders to organize documents.)

Antes, usaba el despertador para levantarme temprano. (Before, I used an alarm clock to wake up early.)

¿Usabais las tijeras para cortar el papel? (Did you all use scissors to cut paper?)

Ellas usaban los audífonos para escuchar música. (They used headphones to listen to music.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Usar (to use) 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.