cerrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
cerrar — to close
Cerrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive (based on the preterite stem): cerrara, cerraras, cerrara, cerráramos, cerrarais, cerraran.
cerrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypotheticals (e.g., 'If I closed...') or when the main verb is in the past and triggers the subjunctive.
Notes on cerrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
There is no stem change (e > ie) here because this tense is built from the preterite 'cerraron' stem.
Example Sentences
Si yo cerrara el negocio, estaría triste.
If I closed the business, I would be sad.
yo
Me pidió que cerrara la ventana.
He asked me to close the window.
él/ella/usted
Si nosotros cerráramos el trato hoy, celebraríamos.
If we closed the deal today, we would celebrate.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'cierrara' instead of 'cerrara'.
Correct: The correct form is cerrara.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is based on the 3rd person plural of the preterite (cerraron), which has no stem change.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cierro
Cerrar is a stem-changing verb (e > ie) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: cerré
Cerrar is regular in the preterite: cerré, cerraste, cerró, cerramos, cerrasteis, cerraron.
Imperfect
yo: cerraba
Cerrar is regular in the imperfect: cerraba, cerrabas, cerraba, cerrábamos, cerrabais, cerraban.
Future
yo: cerraré
Cerrar is regular in the future: cerraré, cerrarás, cerrará, cerraremos, cerraréis, cerrarán.
Conditional
yo: cerraría
Cerrar is regular in the conditional: cerraría, cerrarías, cerraría, cerraríamos, cerraríais, cerrarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cierre
The present subjunctive of cerrar mirrors the present indicative stem change: cierre, cierres, cierre, cerremos, cerréis, cierren.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ¡Cierra!
Use 'cierra' (tú) or 'cierre' (usted) for commands; remember the stem change in most forms.
Negative Imperative
yo: ¡No cierres!
The negative imperative uses 'no' + present subjunctive: no cierres, no cierre, no cerremos, no cerréis, no cierren.