cursar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
cursar — to study
Use 'cursara' or 'cursase' for past hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts.
cursar 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, or expressed a wish or doubt. It's common in 'if' clauses referring to unreal conditions or in subordinate clauses after verbs of influence, emotion, or doubt.
Notes on cursar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Cursar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (cursara, cursaras, etc.) or the -se form (cursase, cursases, etc.). The -ra form is generally more common.
Example Sentences
Si cursara más asignaturas, me graduaría antes.
If I studied more subjects, I would graduate sooner.
yo
Me gustaría que tú cursaras esta carrera.
I would like you to study this degree.
tú
El profesor quería que todos cursaran el curso introductorio.
The professor wanted everyone to study the introductory course.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Ojalá él cursase menos materias este semestre.
Hopefully he would study fewer subjects this semester.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect subjunctive with preterite.
Correct: Use imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical past conditions ('Si cursara...') and preterite for completed past actions ('Cursé la universidad').
Why: The subjunctive expresses unreality or uncertainty, while the preterite expresses definite past events.
Mistake: Using the -ra form when the -se form is expected or vice versa in specific regional dialects.
Correct: Both 'cursara' and 'cursase' are generally correct, but 'cursara' is more common in most regions.
Why: While grammatically interchangeable in many contexts, regional preferences exist. Sticking to the -ra form is usually safe.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'cursar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: curso
Use 'curso', 'cursas', 'cursa', 'cursamos', 'cursáis', 'cursan' for current, habitual, or general studies.
Preterite
yo: cursé
Use 'cursé', 'cursaste', 'cursó', 'cursamos', 'cursasteis', 'cursaron' for completed past studies.
Imperfect
yo: cursaba
Use 'cursaba', 'cursabas', 'cursaba', 'cursábamos', 'cursabais', 'cursaban' for ongoing or habitual past studies.
Future
yo: cursaré
Use 'cursaré', 'cursarás', 'cursará', 'cursaremos', 'cursaréis', 'cursarán' for future studies or probability.
Conditional
yo: cursaría
Use 'cursaría', 'cursarías', 'cursaría', 'cursaríamos', 'cursaríais', 'cursarían' for hypothetical or polite study plans.
Present Subjunctive
yo: curse
Use 'curse' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'curses' (tú), 'cursemos' (nosotros), 'cursen' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cursa
Use 'cursa' (tú), 'curse' (usted), 'cursemos' (nosotros), 'curen' (ustedes), 'cursad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no curses
Use 'no curses' (tú), 'no curse' (usted), 'no cursemos' (nosotros), 'no cursen' (ustedes), 'no curséis' (vosotros) for negative commands.