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"Imputar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to impute", and "justificar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to justify". Learn more about the difference between "imputar" and "justificar" below.
imputar(
eem
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poo
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tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to indict)
a. to impute
El hombre confesó que sí había cometido el delito que le imputaban.The man confessed that he had committed the crime imputed to him.
b. to attribute
Han imputado varios casos de corrupción al político.Several cases of corruption have been attributed to the politician.
c. to accuse
Se imputó al acusado de tenencia ilegal de armas.The defendant was accused of the possession of illegal arms.
d. to charge
Los crímenes que se les imputan son muy graves.The crimes they are charged with are very serious.
a. to allocate
El dinero que gané en la lotería lo imputé a pagar la hipoteca de mi casa.I allocated the money I won in the lottery to pay my home mortgage.
b. to assign
El alcalde imputó el dinero recaudado en los impuestos a realizar mejoras en la ciudad.The mayor assigned the tax money collected to make improvements in the city.
justificar(
hoos
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tee
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fee
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kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to justify
Mario justificó su enfado diciendo que había tenido un mal día.Mario justified his behavior saying he had had a bad day.
b. to excuse
Justifiqué mi ausencia en la reunión presentando un permiso de baja.I excused my absence in the meeting by presenting a doctor's note.
a. to explain
El profesor pidió al estudiante que justificara su respuesta en el examen.The teacher asked the student to explain his answer on the exam.
3. (typography)
a. to justify
Nos dijeron que teníamos que justificar el texto a la izquierda.They told us that we should justify the text to the left.
justificarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to make excuses for oneself
Juan se justificó por el retraso diciendo que no le había sonado la alarma.Juan made excuses for himself for being late saying that the alarm didn't ring.
b. to justify oneself
Cuando se te olvida algo, siempre te justificas diciendo que es mi culpa por no apuntarlo.When you forget something, you always justify yourself by saying that it's my fault for not writing it down.
c. to excuse oneself
Si te justificas lo que dices, es porque no tienes confianza en ti mismo.If you excuse yourself for what you say, it's because you're not confident in yourself.
a. to be justified
Mi decisión de irme se justifica si piensas en cómo me has tratado.My decision to leave is justified if you think of how you treated me.
