animar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
animar — to encourage
The imperfect subjunctive of 'animar' (like 'animara' or 'animase') expresses past doubts, wishes, or hypothetical situations.
animar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is for hypothetical situations in the past, expressing wishes or doubts that were relevant then, or describing something that was happening under certain conditions in the past.
Notes on animar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Animar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the '-ra' and '-se' endings are valid, though '-ra' is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si me animara, habría ido a la fiesta.
If I had been encouraged, I would have gone to the party.
yo
Ojalá él nos animara más.
I wish he would encourage us more.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros habríamos ido si ellos nos animaran.
We would have gone if they had encouraged us.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me sorprendería que tú no lo animases.
It would surprise me if you didn't encourage him.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive after 'si' for hypotheticals.
Correct: For a past hypothetical, use 'Si me animara...', not 'Si me animaba...'.
Why: The 'si' clause for past unreal conditions requires the imperfect subjunctive.
Mistake: Confusing the '-ra' and '-se' forms.
Correct: Both 'animara' and 'animase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms.
Why: While regional preferences exist, both are grammatically valid.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: animo
The present tense of 'animar' ('animo', 'animas', 'anima') describes current actions of encouraging or cheering, or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: animé
The preterite of 'animar' (like 'animé', 'animaste', 'animó') describes completed actions of encouraging or cheering in the past.
Imperfect
yo: animaba
The imperfect of 'animar' ('animaba', 'animabas', 'animaba') describes ongoing or habitual encouragement in the past.
Future
yo: animaré
The future tense of 'animar' ('animaré', 'animarás', 'animará') indicates actions of encouraging that will happen later.
Conditional
yo: animaría
The conditional of 'animar' ('animaría', 'animarías', 'animaría') is used for hypothetical encouragement ('would encourage') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: anime
The present subjunctive of 'animar' (like 'anime' or 'animes') is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: anima
Use the imperative of animar for direct commands like 'anima' (you, informal) or 'animen' (you all, formal).
Negative Imperative
yo: no animes
Form negative commands for 'animar' using 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no animes' (don't encourage).