acatar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
acatar — to obey
Use 'acatara' or 'acataras' etc. for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
acatar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations in the past, to express wishes or doubts about past events, or for very polite requests. It often appears in 'if' clauses referring to unlikely past scenarios.
Notes on acatar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Acatar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (acatara, acataras, etc.) is more common in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
Si yo acatara las normas, no tendría problemas.
If I obeyed the rules, I wouldn't have problems.
yo
Ojalá él acatara mi consejo la próxima vez.
I wish he would obey my advice next time.
él/ella/usted
Me gustaría que ustedes acataran la orden.
I would like you to obey the order.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Dudaba que tú acataras la decisión tan rápido.
I doubted that you would obey the decision so quickly.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypotheticals or wishes about the past, use the imperfect subjunctive (e.g., 'si acatara' not 'si acató' or 'si acataba').
Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express non-factual or hypothetical situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: While both exist, the -ra form (acatara) is generally more common and preferred in many contexts.
Why: Learners might default to the -se form or mix them up, but consistency with the -ra form is often safer.
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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.
Conditional
yo: acataría
Use 'acataría' (yo) and 'acataría' (él/ella/usted) for hypothetical obedience ('would obey').
Present Subjunctive
yo: acate
Use 'acate' (él/ella/usted) or 'acates' (tú) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
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.