contradecir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
contradecir — to contradict
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'contradije-' stem: contradijera, contradijeras, etc.
contradecir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use in 'if' clauses or past-tense triggers (e.g., 'Me sorprendió que me contradijera').
Notes on contradecir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The stem is based on the preterite 'ellos' form (contradijeron), losing the -ron and adding the subjunctive endings.
Example Sentences
Si yo te contradijera, tendrías que escucharme.
If I were to contradict you, you would have to listen to me.
yo
Me molestó que me contradijeras ayer.
It bothered me that you contradicted me yesterday.
tú
Buscábamos a alguien que no nos contradijera.
We were looking for someone who wouldn't contradict us.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'contradiciera'.
Correct: The correct form is contradijera.
Why: The stem must match the irregular preterite 'j' stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contradigo
Contradecir is highly irregular in the present, following the pattern of 'decir' with a 'g' in the 'yo' form and an e-to-i stem change.
Preterite
yo: contradije
The preterite of contradecir uses the irregular 'j' stem: contradije, contradijiste, contradijo.
Imperfect
yo: contradecía
Contradecir is regular in the imperfect: contradecía, contradecías, contradecía.
Future
yo: contradeciré
The future tense is regular for contradecir: contradeciré, contradecirás, contradecirá.
Conditional
yo: contradeciría
The conditional is regular: contradeciría, contradecirías, contradeciría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: contradiga
The present subjunctive uses the 'contradiga-' stem, derived from the 'yo' form of the present indicative.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contradice
The imperative uses 'contradice' (tú) and 'contradiga' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contradigas
The negative imperative uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms: no contradigas, no contradiga.