cancelar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
cancelar — cancel
The imperfect subjunctive of 'cancelar' (cancelara/cancelase) describes hypothetical or ongoing past actions in dependent clauses.
cancelar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'cancelar' when talking about past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations. It's common in 'if' clauses, like 'Si cancelara el concierto, estaría triste'.
Notes on cancelar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Cancela' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct, though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Ojalá no cancelara la fiesta.
I wish they wouldn't cancel the party.
él/ella/usted
Si cancelaras tu viaje, lo lamentarías.
If you canceled your trip, you would regret it.
tú
Me pidió que no cancelara la reserva.
He asked me not to cancel the reservation.
yo
Dudábamos que cancelaran el partido.
We doubted they would cancel the game.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of imperfect subjunctive: 'Si canceló el vuelo...'.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical past conditions: 'Si cancelara el vuelo...'.
Why: The preterite refers to completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive is for unreal or hypothetical past situations.
Mistake: Confusing -ra and -se forms: 'Si cancelase el tren...' when '-ra' is expected.
Correct: Both are grammatically correct, but '-ra' is often preferred or more common. Consistency is key.
Why: While both endings are valid, regional preferences or stylistic choices might favor one over the other.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'cancelar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: cancelo
The present tense of 'cancelar' (cancelo) is regular and used for current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: cancelé
The preterite of 'cancelar' (cancelé) is regular and used for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: cancelaba
The imperfect tense of 'cancelar' (cancelaba) describes habitual or ongoing past actions and background descriptions.
Future
yo: cancelaré
The future tense of 'cancelar' (cancelaré) is regular and used for actions that will happen or to express probability.
Conditional
yo: cancelaría
The conditional of 'cancelar' (cancelaría) is regular and used for hypotheticals, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cancele
The present subjunctive of 'cancelar' (cancele) is used after expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, and in negative commands.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cancela
The imperative of 'cancelar' has regular forms for commands: cancela (tú), cancele (usted), cancelamos (nosotros), cancelad (vosotros), cancelen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no canceles
Negative commands for 'cancelar' use the present subjunctive: no canceles (tú), no cancele (usted), no cancelemos (nosotros), no canceléis (vosotros), no cancelen (ustedes).