borrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
borrar — erase
The imperfect subjunctive of borrar (e.g., borrara, borraras, borráramos) expresses past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations.
borrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, doubts, or emotions that were happening in the past, or to express polite requests. It often appears in 'if' clauses (si...) or after expressions of desire or doubt in the past.
Notes on borrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Borrrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (borrara, borraras, etc.) is more common in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
Si yo borrara los errores, el documento estaría perfecto.
If I erased the errors, the document would be perfect.
yo
Ojalá tú borraras esos malos recuerdos.
I wish you would erase those bad memories.
tú
Me gustaría que ella borrara la pizarra.
I would like her to erase the whiteboard.
él/ella/usted
Sería bueno que nosotros borráramos las fotos viejas.
It would be good if we erased the old photos.
nosotros
Ellos dudaban que el profesor borrara el ejercicio.
They doubted that the teacher would erase the exercise.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive for past hypotheticals.
Correct: Use 'borrara' or 'borrase' for past hypotheticals, not 'borró'.
Why: The preterite describes completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with unreal or hypothetical situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: While both are correct, the -ra form (borrara) is generally more common.
Why: Learners might be taught both and get mixed up, or overuse the less common -se form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: borro
The present tense of borrar (borro, borras, borra, etc.) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: borré
The preterite of borrar (borré, borraste, borró, etc.) indicates completed actions in the past.
Imperfect
yo: borraba
The imperfect of borrar (borraba, borrabas, borraba, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: borraré
The future tense of borrar (borraré, borrarás, borrará, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: borraría
The conditional of borrar (borraría, borrarías, borraría, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: borre
The present subjunctive of borrar (borre, borres, borremos, etc.) is used after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: borra
Use 'borra' (tú), 'borre' (usted), 'borremos' (nosotros), 'borrad' (vosotros), 'borren' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no borres
Use 'no borres' (tú), 'no borre' (usted), 'no borremos' (nosotros), 'no borréis' (vosotros), 'no borren' (ustedes) for negative commands.