construir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
construir — build
The imperfect subjunctive is based on the preterite 'ellos' form: construyeran.
construir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If we built...') or when expressing past desires about construction.
Notes on construir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense always stems from the 3rd person plural preterite. Since that is 'construyeron', the subjunctive becomes 'construyera'.
Example Sentences
Si construyéramos una cerca, estaríamos más seguros.
If we built a fence, we would be safer.
nosotros
Me gustaría que él construyera mi casa.
I would like him to build my house.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'construiera' (with an 'i').
Correct: construyera
Why: It must follow the preterite stem, which uses a 'y'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: construyo
In the present tense, construir adds a 'y' before the ending in all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.
Preterite
yo: construí
The preterite of construir is irregular in the third person, swapping 'i' for 'y' (construyó, construyeron).
Imperfect
yo: construía
The imperfect of construir is regular, following the standard -ía endings for -ir verbs.
Future
yo: construiré
The future tense of construir is completely regular, using the full infinitive as the stem.
Conditional
yo: construiría
The conditional of construir is regular, adding -ía endings to the infinitive.
Present Subjunctive
yo: construya
The present subjunctive of construir uses the 'y' from the 'yo' form: construya, construyas, etc.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: construye
The imperative uses 'construye' for 'tú' and 'construya/n' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no construyas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no construyas, no construya.