complicar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
complicar — to complicate
The imperfect subjunctive of complicar (complicara/complicase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
complicar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is perfect for talking about hypothetical situations in the past or expressing wishes and doubts that were relevant in the past. For example, 'If he hadn't complicated things...' or 'I wished that she wouldn't complicate the plan.'
Notes on complicar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Complicar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You form it from the preterite third-person plural ('complicaron') by dropping the '-ron' and adding the subjunctive endings. Both the -ra and -se forms are correct, though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si yo hubiera sabido que complicara tanto, no habría venido.
If I had known it would complicate so much, I wouldn't have come.
yo
Me pidió que no complicara la investigación.
He asked me not to complicate the investigation.
yo
Ojalá no nos complicara la vida con sus problemas.
I wish he wouldn't complicate our lives with his problems.
él/ella/usted
Dudaba que ellos complicaran el proyecto intencionadamente.
I doubted that they would complicate the project intentionally.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'complicó' instead of the imperfect subjunctive 'complicara'.
Correct: In hypothetical or wish clauses referring to the past, use 'complicara' or 'complicase'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is specifically for these types of non-factual or past-dependent clauses, whereas the preterite describes completed actions.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'complicara' and 'complicase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms.
Why: While both are grammatically correct, regional preferences exist, with -ra often being more widespread.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: complico
The present tense of complicar is regular: complico, complicas, complica, complicamos, complicáis, complican.
Preterite
yo: compliqué
The preterite of complicar is regular: compliqué, complicaste, complicó, complicamos, complicasteis, complicaron.
Imperfect
yo: complicaba
The imperfect tense of complicar is regular: complicaba, complicabas, complicaba, complicábamos, complicabais, complicaban.
Future
yo: complicaré
The future tense of complicar is regular: complicaré, complicarás, complicará, complicaremos, complicaréis, complicarán.
Conditional
yo: complicaría
The conditional tense of complicar is regular: complicaría, complicarías, complicaría, complicaríamos, complicaríais, complicarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: complique
The present subjunctive of complicar (complique, compliques, compliquemos, compliquen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: complica
The imperative of complicar has regular commands for tú (complica) and vosotros (complicad), but requires a spelling change for the other forms (complique, compliquemos, compliquen).
Negative Imperative
yo: no compliques
Negative commands for complicar use the present subjunctive: no compliques, no complique, no compliquemos, no compliquen, no compliquéis.