cepillar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
cepillar — to brush
The imperfect subjunctive of cepillar (cepillara/cepillase) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
cepillar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or polite requests that refer to a past context. For example, 'I would have brushed...' or 'If I had known, I would have brushed...'.
Notes on cepillar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Cepillar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra or -se ending (e.g., cepillara or cepillase), though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si hubiera sabido, te cepillara el pelo.
If I had known, I would have brushed your hair.
yo
Me pidió que le cepillara la chaqueta.
He asked me to brush his jacket.
él/ella/usted
Esperábamos que ustedes se cepillaran los dientes más a menudo.
We hoped that you all would brush your teeth more often.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Te gustaría que te cepillara el caballo?
Would you like me to brush your horse?
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or uncertain past situations, use the imperfect subjunctive (e.g., 'cepillara'), not the imperfect indicative ('cepillaba').
Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express doubt, desire, or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'cepillara' and 'cepillase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms for 'yo', but 'cepillara' is generally more common.
Why: While both are grammatically correct, regional preferences and stylistic choices dictate which ending is used.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cepillo
The present tense of cepillar (cepillo, cepillas, cepilla, etc.) describes habitual actions, things happening now, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: cepillé
The preterite of cepillar is regular: cepillé, cepillaste, cepilló, cepillamos, cepillasteis, cepillaron.
Imperfect
yo: cepillaba
The imperfect of cepillar (cepillaba, cepillabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: cepillaré
The future tense of cepillar (cepillaré, cepillarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cepillaría
The conditional of cepillar (cepillaría, cepillarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cepille
The present subjunctive of cepillar (cepille, cepilles, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cepilla
Use the imperative of cepillar for direct commands: ¡cepilla (tú), cepille (usted), etc.!
Negative Imperative
yo: no cepilles
Use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands: ¡no cepilles (tú), no cepille (usted), etc.!