retardabas

Retardabas is the second person singular imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb retardar. It means that you were delaying or slowing something in the past, either as a habitual action or as a continuing circumstance. The imperfect tense conveys ongoing or repeated activity rather than a completed action.

Etymology and grammar: retardar comes from Latin retardare, built from re- (back, again) and tardus (slow). As a regular -ar verb, its imperfect forms follow the standard pattern: yo retardaba, tú retardabas, él/ella/Ud. retardaba, nosotros retardábamos, vosotros retardabais, ellos retardaban. The form retardabas specifically addresses the you in a familiar singular context.

Usage and nuance: retardar differs from tardar, which mainly describes the amount of time something takes, and from retrasar, which emphasizes causing a delay in another event. Retardar often implies an external factor or an action that slows progress, whereas tardar focuses more on duration and retrasar on hindering progress already planned or underway. In contemporary speech, retardar is widely understood as a neutral verb, but care should be taken in sensitive contexts where delaying actions could carry negative implications.

Examples:

- Ayer, tú retardabas la entrega del informe al necesitar más revisión.

- El tráfico retardaba nuestra llegada a la sala de reuniones.

- Si no se acelera el proceso, tú retardabas el progreso del proyecto.

Synonyms include demorar, dilatar, y retrasar. Retardabas appears in narratives or descriptions of past actions and is not a standalone noun.