Dar (to give) · Imperfect
By TutorLily Editorial Team · Last updated
Dar in the Spanish imperfect (pretérito imperfecto) is: yo daba, tú dabas, él/ella/usted daba, nosotros/as dábamos, vosotros/as dabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes daban. The imperfect of dar describes habitual or ongoing past giving, plus background states ('el sol daba en la ventana'). Dar's imperfect is fully regular, following the standard -ar pattern.
| To Give | Dar |
|---|---|
| I used to give | yo daba |
| you used to give | tú dabas |
| he/she used to give | él/ella/usted daba |
| we used to give | nosotros/as dábamos |
| you used to give | vosotros/as dabais |
| they used to give | ellos/ellas/ustedes daban |
Dar (to give) in context
Sentences that use dar in the imperfect. Tap each to hear it.
When I lived there, I used to give piano lessons.
You always used to give me the best advice.
My grandmother used to give me candy when she saw me.
We used to take walks along the river at sunset.
You used to throw many parties in that house.
My parents used to give me a weekly allowance.
Working with the imperfect
The imperfect paints the background of a past scene: weather, age, habits, descriptions, ongoing actions that get interrupted. "Era de noche" (it was nighttime), "tenía cinco años" (I was five years old), "iba al parque cuando me llamaste" (I was going to the park when you called me). Only three verbs are irregular in the imperfect — ser (era), ir (iba), and ver (veía). Every other Spanish verb is regular here, which makes the imperfect one of the easiest tenses to learn.
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate dar in the imperfect?
When do I use 'daba' instead of 'di'?
Why is dar's imperfect regular when its preterite is irregular?
Practice Dar (To Give) in real conversations
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