cultivar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
cultivar — to grow
Use 'cultivara' or 'cultivase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
cultivar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations in the past, polite requests, or to express wishes that were unlikely or impossible. It often appears in 'if' clauses referring to past possibilities.
Notes on cultivar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Cultivar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. The endings are either -ra/-ras/-ra/-ramos/-rais/-ran or -se/-ses/-se/-semos/-seis/-sen. Both are correct, but the -ra form is more common.
Example Sentences
Si cultivara más paciencia, sería más feliz.
If I cultivated more patience, I would be happier.
yo
Ojalá cultivasen un jardín hermoso.
I wish they would cultivate a beautiful garden.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me gustaría que cultivaras mejores hábitos alimenticios.
I would like you to cultivate better eating habits.
tú
Ellos habrían tenido éxito si hubieran cultivado más contactos.
They would have succeeded if they had cultivated more contacts.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of imperfect subjunctive in an 'if' clause: 'Si cultivó más, tendría éxito'.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si cultivara más, tendría éxito'.
Why: Hypothetical or unreal conditions in the past require the imperfect subjunctive.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, or using the wrong ending: 'Yo cultivase' vs 'Yo cultivara'.
Correct: Both 'cultivara' and 'cultivase' are correct for 'yo', as are 'cultivaras' and 'cultivases' for 'tú', etc. Ensure you use a complete set of endings from one pattern (-ra or -se).
Why: Both sets of endings are valid, but consistency within a sentence is important.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'cultivar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: cultivo
Use 'cultivo' (yo) and 'cultivan' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for what you grow now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: cultivé
Use 'cultivé' (yo) and 'cultivó' (él/ella/usted) for completed past actions of growing.
Imperfect
yo: cultivaba
Use 'cultivaba' (yo) and 'cultivaban' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for ongoing or habitual past growing.
Future
yo: cultivaré
Use 'cultivaré' (yo) and 'cultivarán' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cultivaría
Use 'cultivaría' (yo) and 'cultivarían' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for hypothetical 'would' scenarios.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cultive
Use 'cultive' (él/ella/usted) and 'cultiven' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) after wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cultiva
Use 'cultiva' (tú) and 'cultiven' (ustedes) for direct commands to grow things.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cultives
Use 'no cultives' (tú) and 'no cultiven' (ustedes) for negative commands.