contemplar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
contemplar — to gaze at
The imperfect subjunctive of contemplar describes past hypothetical situations or wishes: contemplara, contemplaras, contemplara, contempláramos, contemplarais, contemplaran.
contemplar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations. For example, 'Ojalá contemplara el mar' means 'I wish he/she would gaze at the sea'. It's also common in 'if' clauses referring to unreal conditions in the past.
Notes on contemplar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Contemplar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are possible, but -ra is more common in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
Si yo contemplara el infinito, ¿qué vería?
If I were to gaze at infinity, what would I see?
yo
Me gustaría que tú contemplaras la obra de arte.
I would like you to gaze at the work of art.
tú
Ella deseaba que él contemplara su esfuerzo.
She wished that he would gaze upon her effort.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros esperábamos que ustedes contemplaran la propuesta.
We hoped that you all would consider the proposal.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For past hypotheticals, use 'contemplara', not 'contempló'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for hypothetical or unreal conditions in the past.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the '-ra' or '-se' forms.
Correct: Forms like 'contemplara' and 'contempláramos' need the accent.
Why: The accent marks the stressed syllable and distinguishes it from other verb forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contemplo
The present tense of contemplar describes current actions or habits: contemplo, contemplas, contempla, contemplamos, contempláis, contemplan.
Preterite
yo: contemplé
The preterite of contemplar describes completed past actions: contemplé, contemplaste, contempló, contemplamos, contemplasteis, contemplaron.
Imperfect
yo: contemplaba
The imperfect of contemplar describes ongoing or habitual past actions: contemplaba, contemplabas, contemplaba, contemplábamos, contemplabais, contemplaban.
Future
yo: contemplaré
The future tense of contemplar expresses what will happen: contemplaré, contemplarás, contemplará, contemplaremos, contemplaréis, contemplarán.
Conditional
yo: contemplaría
The conditional of contemplar expresses hypothetical actions or polite requests: contemplaría, contemplarías, contemplaría, contemplaríamos, contemplaríais, contemplarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: contemple
The present subjunctive of contemplar expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions: contemple, contemples, contemple, contemplemos, contempléis, contemplen.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contempla
The imperative of contemplar gives direct commands: ¡contempla!, ¡contemple!, ¡contemplemos!, ¡contemplad!, ¡contemplen!.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contemples
Negative commands for contemplar use the present subjunctive: ¡no contemples!, ¡no contemple!, ¡no contemplemos!, ¡no contempléis!, ¡no contemplen!.