administrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
administrar — to manage
The imperfect subjunctive (administrara/administrase) expresses unreal or hypothetical situations in the past.
administrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for past events that were hypothetical, desired, or uncertain. It's common in 'if' clauses or after expressions of doubt or emotion in the past.
Notes on administrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Administrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct, though -ra is more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo administrara mejor el tiempo, tendría más éxito.
If I managed time better, I would have more success.
yo
Me gustaría que tú administraras el proyecto.
I would like you to manage the project.
tú
Ojalá él administrara los recursos sabiamente.
I wish he would manage the resources wisely.
él/ella/usted
Ella quería que nosotros administráramos la cuenta.
She wanted us to manage the account.
nosotros
Dudaba que ellos administraran bien la compañía.
I doubted they would manage the company well.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For 'If I managed...', use 'Si yo administrara...', not 'Si yo administraba...'.
Why: Hypothetical or unreal conditions require the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'administrara' and 'administrase' are correct for the imperfect subjunctive.
Why: Spanish offers two sets of endings for this tense; -ra is generally more frequent.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: administro
The present indicative of administrar is regular: administro, administras, administra, administramos, administráis, administran.
Preterite
yo: administré
The preterite of administrar is regular: administré, administraste, administró, administramos, administrasteis, administraron.
Imperfect
yo: administraba
The imperfect of administrar is regular: administraba, administrabas, administraba, administrábamos, administrabais, administraban.
Future
yo: administraré
The future tense of administrar is regular: administraré, administrarás, administrará, etc.
Conditional
yo: administraría
The conditional of administrar is regular: administraría, administrarías, administraría, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: administre
The present subjunctive (administre, administres, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: administra
Use the imperative forms administra, administre, administremos, administrad, administren for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no administres
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no administres, no administre, no administremos, no administréis, no administren.