abstenerse Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
abstenerse — to refrain
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'abstuv-' stem: me abstuviera, te abstuvieras.
abstenerse Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use it in 'if' clauses (hypotheticals) or when expressing a past wish that someone had refrained from something.
Notes on abstenerse in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is built from the 3rd person plural of the preterite (abstuvieron), maintaining the 'uv' stem.
Example Sentences
Si me abstuviera de gastar, tendría dinero.
If I refrained from spending, I would have money.
yo
Me pidió que no me abstuviera de votar.
He asked me not to refrain from voting.
yo
Si ellos se abstuvieran, ganaríamos.
If they refrained, we would win.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Si me absteniera.
Correct: Si me abstuviera.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive must follow the irregular preterite stem 'abstuv-'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me abstengo
The present of abstenerse follows the pattern of tener: me abstengo, te abstienes, se abstiene.
Preterite
yo: me abstuve
The preterite uses the 'uv' stem: me abstuve, te abstuviste, se abstuvo.
Imperfect
yo: me abstenía
The imperfect is regular for abstenerse: me abstenía, te abstenías, se abstenía.
Future
yo: me abstendré
The future uses the stem 'abstendr-': me abstendré, te abstendrás, se abstendrá.
Conditional
yo: me abstendría
The conditional uses the stem 'abstendr-': me abstendría, te abstendrías.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me abstenga
The subjunctive uses the 'absteng-' stem: me abstenga, te abstengas, se abstenga.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: abstente
Direct commands: abstente (tú), absténgase (usted), absteneos (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no te abstengas
Negative commands use the subjunctive: no te abstengas, no se abstenga.