consistir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
consistir — to consist of
The imperfect subjunctive of consistir (consistiera/consistiese) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
consistir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is for hypothetical situations in the past, often in 'if' clauses, or to express past wishes or doubts. For example, 'Si consistiera en solo eso...' (If it consisted only of that...) or 'Dudaba que consistiera en una solución fácil' (I doubted it consisted of an easy solution).
Notes on consistir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Consistir is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (consistiera) or the -se form (consistiese); the -ra form is more common.
Example Sentences
Si el problema consistiera solo en dinero, lo resolveríamos.
If the problem consisted only of money, we would solve it.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá no consistiera en algo tan complicado.
I wish it didn't consist of something so complicated.
él/ella/usted
Me sorprendió que el plan consistiera en tantos pasos.
It surprised me that the plan consisted of so many steps.
él/ella/usted
Ellos actuaron como si todo consistiera en un juego.
They acted as if everything consisted of a game.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'consistiera' or 'consistiese' after expressions of doubt or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for these specific past hypothetical or uncertain situations.
Mistake: Confusing -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'consistiera' and 'consistiese' are correct, but 'consistiera' is more common.
Why: They are interchangeable, but learners often stick to one and aren't aware of the other.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: consisto
Consistir is regular in the present tense: consisto, consistes, consiste, consistimos, consistís, consisten.
Preterite
yo: consistí
Consistir is regular in the preterite: consistí, consististe, consistió, consistimos, consististeis, consistieron.
Imperfect
yo: consistía
The imperfect of consistir is consistía, consistías, consistía, consistíamos, consistíais, consistían.
Future
yo: consistiré
The future of consistir is regular: consistiré, consistirás, consistirá, consistiremos, consistiréis, consistirán.
Conditional
yo: consistiría
The conditional of consistir is consistiría, consistirías, consistiría, consistiríamos, consistiríais, consistirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: consista
The present subjunctive of consistir (consista) is used after expressions of doubt, emotion, or desire.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: consiste
Consiste is the affirmative tú command, while consista is usted/él/ella/ustedes, and consistid is vosotros.
Negative Imperative
yo: no consistas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no consistas (tú), no consista (usted), no consistamos (nosotros), no consistan (ustedes), no consistáis (vosotros).