cepillar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
cepillar — to brush
The present subjunctive of cepillar (cepille, cepilles, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
cepillar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
You'll use this tense when expressing wishes, doubts, emotions, or recommendations about an action like brushing. For example, 'I want you to brush your teeth' or 'It's important that we brush regularly'.
Notes on cepillar in the Present Subjunctive
Cepillar is regular in the present subjunctive. The forms are derived from the 'yo' form of the present indicative ('cepillo') by changing the '-o' ending to the opposite vowel.
Example Sentences
Quiero que te cepilles los dientes.
I want you to brush your teeth.
tú
Es importante que usted se cepille después de comer.
It's important that you brush after eating.
Dudo que él cepille su mochila tan a menudo.
I doubt he brushes his backpack so often.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá que nosotros cepillemos el coche este fin de semana.
Hopefully, we will brush the car this weekend.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the present subjunctive.
Correct: After phrases like 'quiero que', 'es importante que', or 'dudo que', use the present subjunctive (e.g., 'cepilles', not 'cepillas').
Why: These trigger phrases require the subjunctive mood to express subjectivity.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'cepilléis' (vosotros).
Correct: The vosotros form is 'cepilléis', with an accent on the 'é'.
Why: The accent is needed to maintain the correct pronunciation and distinguish it from other forms.
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cepillara
The imperfect subjunctive of cepillar (cepillara/cepillase) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
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.!