arañar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, doubts, or emotions in the past, or in 'if' clauses referring to unlikely scenarios. For 'arañar', you might use it when talking about what you *would have* scratched if something else had happened.

Notes on arañar in the Imperfect Subjunctive

Arañar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (arañara, arañaras, etc.) is more common in everyday speech.

Example Sentences

• Si el gato me hubiera molestado, lo arañara.

  If the cat had bothered me, I would have scratched it.

  yo

• Me pidió que no arañara la madera antigua.

  He asked me not to scratch the antique wood.

  él/ella/usted

• Dudaba que tú arañaras la pintura.

  I doubted that you would scratch the paint.

  tú

• Ojalá no arañaran el coche nuevo.

  I wish they wouldn't scratch the new car.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.

  Correct: For hypothetical or doubtful past situations, use forms like 'arañara' or 'arañaras'.

  Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express these non-factual or subjective states.

• Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.

  Correct: While both are correct, the -ra forms (arañara, arañaras) are generally more common.

  Why: Familiarity with the -ra forms is key for understanding and using the imperfect subjunctive.

Related Tenses