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Spanish · Verb · #163 most common

impedir

to prevent
to impede

Irregular-ir ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yoimpido
impides
él/ellaimpide
nosotrosimpedimos
vosotrosimpidís
ellos/ellasimpiden

El ruido impide que me concentre en el trabajo.

The noise prevents me from concentrating on work.

Ella siempre impide que sus hijos vean televisión durante la cena.

She always prevents her children from watching television during dinner.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yoimpidí
impidiste
él/ellaimpidió
nosotrosimpidimos
vosotrosimpidisteis
ellos/ellasimpidieron

La lluvia impidió que saliéramos a jugar.

The rain prevented us from going out to play.

El tráfico impidió que llegáramos a tiempo a la reunión.

The traffic prevented us from arriving on time to the meeting.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yoimpedía
impedías
él/ellaimpedía
nosotrosimpedíamos
vosotrosimpedíais
ellos/ellasimpedían

Cuando era niño, el miedo me impedía nadar en el mar.

When I was a child, fear prevented me from swimming in the sea.

Las reglas del juego impedían que los jugadores hicieran trampas.

The rules of the game prevented the players from cheating.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yoimpediré
impedirás
él/ellaimpedirá
nosotrosimpediremos
vosotrosimpediréis
ellos/ellasimpedirán

Si no estudias, eso te impedirá pasar el examen.

If you don't study, that will prevent you from passing the exam.

La falta de recursos impedirá el desarrollo del proyecto.

The lack of resources will prevent the development of the project.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yoimpediría
impedirías
él/ellaimpediría
nosotrosimpediríamos
vosotrosimpediríais
ellos/ellasimpedirían

Si tuvieras más tiempo, eso no te impediría ayudarme.

If you had more time, that wouldn't prevent you from helping me.

El mal tiempo podría impedir que viajemos este fin de semana.

Bad weather could prevent us from traveling this weekend.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yoimpida
impidas
él/ellaimpida
nosotrosimpidamos
vosotrosimpidáis
ellos/ellasimpidan

Es importante que no impidas que los niños jueguen.

It's important that you don't prevent the children from playing.

Espero que nada impida nuestra reunión mañana.

I hope that nothing prevents our meeting tomorrow.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yoimpidiera
impidieras
él/ellaimpidiera
nosotrosimpidiéramos
vosotrosimpidierais
ellos/ellasimpidieran

Si él supiera la verdad, no impediría que hablemos.

If he knew the truth, he wouldn't prevent us from talking.

Si ellos pudieran, no impedirían que los demás participen.

If they could, they wouldn't prevent others from participating.

"impedir" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "impedir" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"impedir" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -ir conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "impedir" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "impedir" conjugates as: impides, impido, impiden, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "impedir" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "impedir" conjugates as: impidiste, impidí, impidieron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "impedir" in Spanish?
"impedir" (to prevent, to impede) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.