citar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
citar — to make an appointment
The imperfect subjunctive ('citara', 'citase') expresses hypothetical or unreal situations related to making appointments in the past.
citar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for past unreal conditions, wishes, or hypothetical situations. It's common in 'if' clauses referring to the past or when expressing doubt about a past event.
Notes on citar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The verb 'citar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., citara/citase, citaras/citases). The -ra form is generally more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo citara a más gente, necesitaríamos un lugar más grande.
If I were to invite more people, we would need a bigger place.
yo
Me gustaría que tú me citaras para hablar.
I would like you to schedule me for a talk.
tú
Ellos habrían venido si los hubiéramos citado antes.
They would have come if we had invited them earlier.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Ojalá él nos citara pronto para resolver esto.
I wish he would invite us soon to resolve this.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'Si yo citara' not 'Si yo citaba'.
Why: Conditional or hypothetical clauses in the past require the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: While both are correct, 'citara' is generally more common than 'citase' in many regions.
Why: Learners might stick to one form or use them interchangeably incorrectly.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cito
The present tense ('cito', 'citas', 'cita') is used for habitual actions like regularly making appointments or for general truths about meetings.
Preterite
yo: cité
The preterite of 'citar' ('cité', 'citaste', 'citó') is regular and used for completed actions like making or attending an appointment in the past.
Imperfect
yo: citaba
The imperfect tense ('citaba', 'citabas') describes habitual or ongoing past actions, like frequently making appointments or background settings.
Future
yo: citaré
The future tense ('citaré', 'citarás') is used to state with certainty that an appointment will be made or someone will be summoned.
Conditional
yo: citaría
The conditional ('citaría', 'citarías') is used for polite requests to make an appointment or for hypothetical situations.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cite
The present subjunctive ('cite', 'cites') is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion when talking about making appointments.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cita
Use imperative forms like 'cita' (you singular) and 'citen' (you plural) to give direct commands for making appointments.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cites
Use negative imperative forms like 'no cites' (you singular) and 'no citen' (you plural) to forbid making appointments.