aferrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
aferrar — to grasp
Aferrara/aferrase forms express hypothetical past wishes or conditions.
aferrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts in the past, often following 'if' clauses or phrases expressing uncertainty or desire.
Notes on aferrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Aferrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive, with both the -ra and -se endings being common.
Example Sentences
Si yo me aferrara a esa idea, no habría cambiado de opinión.
If I had held onto that idea, I wouldn't have changed my mind.
yo
Me gustaría que tú te aferrases a la esperanza.
I would like you to hold onto hope.
tú
Era importante que él se aferrara a la vida.
It was important that he clung to life.
él/ella/usted
Dudaba que ellos se aferraran a esa excusa.
I doubted they would stick to that excuse.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Ojalá nosotros nos aferráramos menos a las cosas materiales.
Hopefully, we would cling less to material things.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'si me aferrara' not 'si me aferré'.
Why: Hypothetical or unreal past conditions require the imperfect subjunctive.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'aferrara' and 'aferrase' are correct for yo/él/ella/usted.
Why: While regional or stylistic preferences exist, both are grammatically valid imperfect subjunctive endings.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aferro
Aferro, aferras, aferra, aferramos, aferráis, aferran: actions of grasping happening now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: aferré
Aferré, aferraste, aferró, aferramos, aferrasteis, aferraron: completed actions of grasping or holding on.
Imperfect
yo: aferraba
Aferraba, aferrabas, aferraba, aferrábamos, aferrabais, aferraban: ongoing or habitual past actions of grasping.
Future
yo: aferraré
Aferraré, aferrarás, aferrará, aferraremos, aferraréis, aferrarán: actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: aferraría
Aferraría, aferrarías, aferraría, aferraríamos, aferraríais, aferrarían: hypothetical 'would grasp' or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aferre
Aferre, aferres, aferre, aferremos, aferréis, aferren: express wishes, doubts, emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aferra
Aferra, aferrad, aferre, aferren: direct commands to grasp or hold on.
Negative Imperative
yo: no aferres
No aferres, no aferréis, no aferre, no aferren: negative commands not to grasp.