acatar Conditional Conjugation
acatar — to obey
Use 'acataría' (yo) and 'acataría' (él/ella/usted) for hypothetical obedience ('would obey').
acatar Conditional Forms
When to Use the Conditional
The conditional is used for hypothetical situations ('what would happen'), polite requests, or expressing what someone would do in a certain circumstance. It's also used for future actions from a past perspective.
Notes on acatar in the Conditional
'Acatar' is regular in the conditional tense. The stem is the infinitive ('acatar') and the endings are the standard conditional endings.
Example Sentences
Yo acataría tus consejos si fueran razonables.
I would obey your advice if it were reasonable.
yo
¿Tú acatarías la decisión aunque no te gustara?
Would you obey the decision even if you didn't like it?
tú
Él acataría las reglas si se las explicaran bien.
He would obey the rules if they were explained well to him.
él/ella/usted
Ellos acatarían la orden si fuera justa.
They would obey the order if it were fair.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the conditional for a simple future action.
Correct: Use the future tense ('acatará') for definite future actions and the conditional ('acataría') for hypothetical or polite actions.
Why: The conditional expresses unreality or politeness, not a certainty about the future.
Mistake: Confusing conditional and imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: In 'if' clauses about hypothetical situations, the imperfect subjunctive is used in the 'if' part, and the conditional in the main clause (e.g., 'Si acatara, yo acataría').
Why: This is a standard structure for hypothetical conditions in Spanish.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'acatar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: acato
Use 'acato' (yo) and 'acata' (él/ella/usted) for current or habitual obedience.
Preterite
yo: acaté
Use 'acaté' (yo) and 'acató' (él/ella/usted) for completed actions of obeying in the past.
Imperfect
yo: acataba
Use 'acataba' (él/ella/usted) and 'acataban' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for past habitual or ongoing obedience.
Future
yo: acataré
Use 'acataré' (yo) and 'acatará' (él/ella/usted) for future obedience or probability.
Present Subjunctive
yo: acate
Use 'acate' (él/ella/usted) or 'acates' (tú) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: acatara
Use 'acatara' or 'acataras' etc. for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: acata
Use 'acata' (tú) and 'acate' (usted) for direct commands to obey.
Negative Imperative
yo: no acates
Use 'no acates' (tú) and 'no acate' (usted) for negative commands to obey.