creer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
creer — to think
The imperfect subjunctive of creer is irregular, using the 'y': creyera, creyeras, creyera, creyéramos, creyerais, creyeran.
creer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If I believed...') or after past-tense expressions of doubt or emotion.
Notes on creer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is built from the third-person plural preterite (creyeron). Because of this, the 'y' persists through all forms.
Example Sentences
Si yo creyera en la suerte, compraría lotería.
If I believed in luck, I would buy a lottery ticket.
yo
No quería que ellos creyeran que era una broma.
I didn't want them to think it was a joke.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Si nos creyeras, estarías preocupado.
If you believed us, you would be worried.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'creiera'.
Correct: The correct form is 'creyera'.
Why: Like the preterite, the 'i' changes to 'y' between vowels.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: creo
The present tense of creer is regular: creo, crees, cree, creemos, creéis, creen.
Preterite
yo: creí
The preterite of creer is irregular in the third person, where the 'i' changes to a 'y': creyó and creyeron.
Imperfect
yo: creía
The imperfect of creer is regular: creía, creías, creía, creíamos, creíais, creían.
Future
yo: creeré
The future tense of creer is regular: creeré, creerás, creerá, creeremos, creeréis, creerán.
Conditional
yo: creería
The conditional of creer is regular: creería, creerías, creería, creeríamos, creeríais, creerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: crea
The present subjunctive of creer is regular: crea, creas, crea, creamos, creáis, crean.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cree
The affirmative imperative of creer is: cree (tú), crea (usted), cread (vosotros), crean (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no creas
The negative imperative of creer uses the present subjunctive: no creas, no crea, no creamos, no creáis, no crean.