retrasábamos

Retrasábamos is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb retrasar. It expresses that we were delaying something in the past or that delaying was a habitual action in the past. Retrasar is a transitive verb, so it requires a direct object representing what is delayed, for example: retrassábamos la entrega (we were delaying the delivery).

Usage and nuance: The form is common in narratives or reports about past timelines, planning, or logistics when delays occurred. It contrasts with the reflexive form retrasarse, which means that the subject themselves is late. For example, “retrasábamos la entrega” indicates that the action of delaying was performed by us, whereas “nos retrasábamos” would mean we were late ourselves or delaying our own arrival.

Conjugation: In the imperfect tense, the forms are: yo retrasaba, tú retrasabas, él/ella/Ud. retrasaba, nosotros/as retrasábamos, vosotros/as retrasabais, ellos/as/Uds. retrasaban. The form retrasábamos is specifically used with the subject “nosotros/as.”

Examples:

- Durante la crisis, retrasábamos la entrega cada semana.

- En el equipo, nos retrasábamos por la falta de información.

Etymology: Retrasar derives from tardar, from Latin tardus meaning slow, with the prefix re- suggesting a sense of delaying or making something slower again. The verb can be used in formal writing or everyday speech to describe past delays in various contexts, such as projects, transportation, or schedules.