contestar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
contestar — to answer
Use 'contestara' or 'contestase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
contestar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for actions or states in the past that were hypothetical, uncertain, emotional, or undesirable. It often appears in 'if' clauses or after expressions of doubt or desire related to the past.
Notes on contestar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Contestar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra ('contestara') and -se ('contestase') forms are correct, though -ra is more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo contestara más rápido, habría ganado.
If I had answered faster, I would have won.
yo
Me pidió que contestara el correo electrónico.
He asked me to answer the email.
yo
Dudaba que ellos contestaran la verdad.
I doubted that they would answer truthfully.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'contestó' instead of the imperfect subjunctive 'contestara'.
Correct: For hypothetical or uncertain past situations, use 'contestara' or 'contestase'.
Why: The preterite is for completed past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with non-factual or uncertain past scenarios.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'contestara' and 'contestase' are valid imperfect subjunctive forms. 'Contestara' is generally more common.
Why: While interchangeable in most contexts, regional preferences or specific grammatical structures might favor one over the other.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contesto
Use 'contesto', 'contestas', 'contesta' for actions happening now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: contesté
Use 'contesté', 'contestaste', 'contestó' for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: contestaba
Use 'contestaba', 'contestabas', etc., for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: contestaré
The future tense 'contestaré', 'contestarás', etc., indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: contestaría
Use 'contestaría', 'contestarías', etc., for hypothetical situations ('would answer').
Present Subjunctive
yo: conteste
Use 'conteste' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'contestes' (tú) for wishes, doubts, or influence.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contesta
Use 'contesta' (tú) and 'conteste' (usted) for direct commands to answer.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contestes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, like 'no contestes' (tú) or 'no conteste' (usted).