comportar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
comportar — to entail
The imperfect subjunctive of comportar (comportara/comportase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and in polite requests.
comportar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, doubts, or emotions expressed in the past, and often in polite or formal requests. It's the past version of the present subjunctive's uses.
Notes on comportar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Comportar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra or -se ending (e.g., 'comportara' or 'comportase'); both are correct, though -ra is often preferred.
Example Sentences
Si yo me comportara mejor, mis padres estarían orgullosos.
If I behaved better, my parents would be proud.
yo
Ojalá él se comportase adecuadamente en la reunión.
I wish he would behave appropriately at the meeting.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que nos comportáramos con calma.
They asked us to behave calmly.
nosotros
Dudaba que ustedes se comportaran así.
I doubted that you all would behave like that.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive for past hypotheticals.
Correct: For 'if' clauses about the past, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si comportara...' not 'Si comportó...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive specifically handles hypothetical or unreal conditions in the past.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'comportara' and 'comportase' are valid for the imperfect subjunctive. Stick to one or learn to recognize both.
Why: While interchangeable, learners might only recognize one form, leading to confusion.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: comporto
The present indicative (comporto, comportas, comporta, comportamos, comportáis, comportan) describes current actions and habits.
Preterite
yo: comporté
Comporté, compraste, compró, compramos, comprastéis, compraron are the regular preterite forms of comportarse.
Imperfect
yo: comportaba
The imperfect of comportar (comportaba, comportabas, comportaba, comportábamos, comportabais, comportaban) describes past habits and ongoing actions.
Future
yo: comportaré
The future tense (comportaré, comportarás, comportará, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: comportaría
The conditional of comportar (comportaría, comportarías, comportaría, etc.) expresses hypotheticals and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: comporte
The present subjunctive (comporte, comportes, comportemos, comportéis, comporten) expresses wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: comporta
Comporta, comporte, comportemos, comportad, comporten are the imperative commands for comportar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no comportes
Negative commands like no comportes, no comporte, no comportemos, no comportéis, no comporten use the present subjunctive.