imponías

Imponías is the second-person singular imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb imponer, meaning you imposed or you used to impose. It describes a past action in which the subject (tú) applied rules, burdens, or authority to others, and it can convey habitual or ongoing past activity.

Etymology and form: Imponer comes from Latin imponere, built from in- “onto” and ponere “to put.” The form imponías follows the regular imperfect conjugation pattern for -er verbs: imponía, imponías, imponía, imponíamos, imponíais, imponían.

Usage and meaning: As a transitive verb, imponer takes a direct object and is used to express the act of placing rules, duties, or pressures on someone. Common collocations include imponer reglas, impuestos, normas, o censura. Example: “Tú imponías tus normas en la oficina sin consultar a nadie.” Another example from narrative or historical contexts: “En esa época, el régimen imponía restricciones severas.” The imperfect conveys that these impositions were habitual or ongoing in the past.

Nuance and considerations: Imponer can carry a sense of coercion or authority, but in neutral or descriptive writing it simply records that an imposing action occurred. The form imponías signals that the subject was addressing others in the past, with the action no longer current.

Ver también: imponer, imponerse.