conservar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
conservar — to preserve
Use 'conservara' or 'conservase' (and variants) for past hypothetical or uncertain situations with 'conservar'.
conservar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is for talking about past events that were hypothetical, uncertain, or unlikely, often in 'if' clauses or after expressions of doubt or desire in the past. For 'conservar', it's like 'if I were to preserve' or 'I wish I preserved'.
Notes on conservar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Conservar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., conservara/conservase), with -ra being more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si conservara mis viejas cartas, las leería.
If I kept my old letters, I would read them.
yo
Ojalá tú conservaras más tiempo libre.
I wish you kept more free time.
tú
Él actuaría diferente si conservara la esperanza.
He would act differently if he kept hope.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros desearíamos que conservaran el secreto.
We would wish that they kept the secret.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Si vosotros conservarais el dinero, podríais viajar.
If you all kept the money, you could travel.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use forms like 'conservara' or 'conservase' in hypothetical or uncertain past clauses.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is specifically for these non-factual or uncertain past contexts.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'conservara' and 'conservase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms for 'yo'.
Why: While regionally one might be preferred, both are grammatically valid.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: conservo
Use 'conservo', 'conservas', 'conserva', 'conservamos', 'conserváis', 'conservan' for present actions, habits, and truths with 'conservar'.
Preterite
yo: conservé
Use 'conservé', 'conservaste', 'conservó', 'conservamos', 'conservasteis', 'conservaron' for completed past actions with 'conservar'.
Imperfect
yo: conservaba
Use 'conservaba' etc. for ongoing or habitual past actions and descriptions with 'conservar'.
Future
yo: conservaré
Use 'conservaré', 'conservarás', 'conservará', etc. for future actions or probability with 'conservar'.
Conditional
yo: conservaría
Use 'conservaría', 'conservarías', 'conservaría', etc. for hypotheticals ('would keep') and polite requests with 'conservar'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: conserve
Use 'conserve', 'conservemos', 'conserven' etc. for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty with 'conservar'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: conserva
Use 'conserva', 'conserve', 'conservemos', 'conservad', 'conserven' for direct commands with 'conservar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no conserves
Use 'no conserves', 'no conserve', 'no conservemos', 'no conservéis', 'no conserven' for negative commands with 'conservar'.