bastar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
bastar — to be enough
The imperfect subjunctive of bastar is regular: bastara, bastaras, bastara, bastáramos, bastarais, bastaran.
bastar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this tense in hypothetical 'if' clauses or after past verbs that trigger the subjunctive, such as 'quería que bastara' (I wanted it to be enough).
Notes on bastar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Bastar is regular here. The forms are derived from the third-person plural preterite (bastaron) by removing -on.
Example Sentences
Si bastara con desearlo, todos serían felices.
If wanting it were enough, everyone would be happy.
él/ella/usted
No creía que bastaran tus excusas.
I didn't believe your excuses would be enough.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me pidió que yo bastara para el equipo.
He asked me to be enough for the team.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'bastaría' in an 'if' clause (e.g., 'Si bastaría...').
Correct: Si bastara
Why: In Spanish, 'if' (si) clauses use the imperfect subjunctive, not the conditional.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: basto
Bastar is a regular -ar verb in the present tense: basto, bastas, basta, bastamos, bastáis, bastan.
Preterite
yo: basté
The preterite of bastar is regular: basté, bastaste, bastó, bastamos, bastasteis, bastaron.
Imperfect
yo: bastaba
The imperfect of bastar follows the regular -aba pattern: bastaba, bastabas, bastaba, bastábamos, bastabais, bastaban.
Future
yo: bastaré
The future of bastar is formed by adding endings to the infinitive: bastaré, bastarás, bastará, bastaremos, bastaréis, bastarán.
Conditional
yo: bastaría
The conditional of bastar is regular: bastaría, bastarías, bastaría, bastaríamos, bastaríais, bastarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: baste
The present subjunctive of bastar changes the 'a' to 'e': baste, bastes, baste, bastemos, bastéis, basten.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: basta
The imperative of bastar is used to command sufficiency: basta, baste, bastemos, bastad, basten.
Negative Imperative
yo: no bastes
The negative imperative of bastar uses present subjunctive forms: no bastes, no baste, no bastemos, no bastéis, no basten.