aspirar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
aspirar — to breathe in
The imperfect subjunctive, like 'aspirara' or 'aspirase', is for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
aspirar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense often appears in 'if' clauses describing unlikely or unreal situations in the past, or after expressions of desire, doubt, or emotion related to past events. For 'aspirar', it could be about wishing you had breathed something in, or imagining a past scenario.
Notes on aspirar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Aspirar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (aspirara, aspiraras, etc.) or the -se form (aspirase, aspirases, etc.). The -ra form is generally more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo aspirara más despacio, no me marearía.
If I breathed more slowly, I wouldn't get dizzy.
yo
Ojalá él aspirara a ser un gran artista.
I wish he would aspire to be a great artist.
él/ella/usted
Dudaba que ustedes aspiraran a ese puesto.
I doubted that you all aspired to that position.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Quería que tú aspiraras aire puro.
I wanted you to breathe in pure air.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si abrí más despacio...'.
Correct: Use 'Si aspirara más despacio...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is needed for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions in the past, not completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings, or using the wrong one.
Correct: Both 'aspirara' and 'aspirase' are correct for 'yo', but '-ra' is often more common.
Why: Spanish has two sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive; while both are technically correct, regional preferences and formality can influence usage.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aspiro
The present tense 'aspiro' is for actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: aspiré
The preterite of aspirar is regular: aspiré, aspiraste, aspiró, aspiramos, aspirasteis, aspiraron.
Imperfect
yo: aspiraba
The imperfect 'aspiraba' describes ongoing past actions, habits, or background details.
Future
yo: aspiraré
The future tense 'aspiraré' expresses what will happen or probability.
Conditional
yo: aspiraría
The conditional 'aspiraría' is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aspire
The present subjunctive, like 'aspire' or 'aspiren', follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aspira
Use imperative forms like 'aspira' (tú) and 'aspiren' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no aspires
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no aspires' (tú) or 'no aspiren' (ustedes).