burlar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
burlar — to evade
Used for past hypotheticals or wishes: burlara, burlaras, burláramos, burlaran.
burlar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts in the past. Think of 'if I were to evade...' or 'I wish you would evade...'. It's often seen in conditional sentences.
Notes on burlar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Burlar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (e.g., burlara) is more common.
Example Sentences
Si burlara la trampa, habría escapado.
If I had evaded the trap, I would have escaped.
yo
Me gustaría que tú burlaras la situación con calma.
I would like you to handle the situation calmly.
tú
Ojalá ellos burlaran sus miedos.
Hopefully, they would overcome their fears.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Era importante que nosotros burláramos los obstáculos.
It was important that we overcome the obstacles.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or past wishes, use forms like 'burlara' or 'burlarais'.
Why: The subjunctive mood expresses uncertainty or emotion, which is necessary in these contexts, unlike the indicative.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, or using the wrong one.
Correct: While both exist (e.g., burlara/burlase), the -ra form is generally more common and safer to use.
Why: Both forms are grammatically correct, but regional preferences and frequency differ.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: burlo
Use the present for current actions or habits: burlo, burlas, burla, burlamos, burlan.
Preterite
yo: burlé
Use the preterite for completed past actions: burlé, burlaste, burló, burlamos, burlaron.
Imperfect
yo: burlaba
Use imperfect for past habits or ongoing actions: burlaba, burlabas, burlábamos, burlaban.
Future
yo: burlaré
Use the future for what will happen: burlaré, burlarás, burlará, burlaremos, burlarán.
Conditional
yo: burlaría
Use conditional for hypotheticals or polite requests: burlaría, burlarías, burlaríamos, burlarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: burle
Used for wishes, doubts, or emotions: burle, burles, burlemos, burlen.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: burla
Use commands with 'burlar': burla, burle, burlemos, burlad, burlen.
Negative Imperative
yo: no burles
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no burles, no burle, no burlemos, no burléis, no burlen.