decaer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
decaer — to decline
The imperfect subjunctive of decaer uses the 'y' stem: decayera, decayeras, decayéramos.
decaer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical situations or past emotions regarding a decline, often after 'si' (if) or 'quería que'.
Notes on decaer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The 'i' in the ending changes to a 'y' because it falls between two vowels (decay-era), following the preterite 3rd person pattern.
Example Sentences
Si el negocio decayera, tendríamos que venderlo.
If the business were to decline, we would have to sell it.
él/ella/usted
No quería que sus ánimos decayeran.
I didn't want their spirits to flag.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Si yo decayera en mi trabajo, me despedirían.
If I were to slack off in my work, they would fire me.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'decaiera' with an 'i'.
Correct: decayera
Why: In Spanish, an unstressed 'i' between two vowels must change to a 'y'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: decaigo
The present of decaer is mostly regular, except for the 'yo' form: decaigo.
Preterite
yo: decaí
The preterite of decaer features a 'y' in the third person: decaí, decaíste, decayó, decaímos, decaísteis, decayeron.
Imperfect
yo: decaía
The imperfect of decaer is regular for -er verbs: decaía, decaías, decaía, decaíamos, decaíais, decaían.
Future
yo: decaeré
The future of decaer is regular: decaeré, decaerás, decaerá, decaeremos, decaeréis, decaerán.
Conditional
yo: decaería
The conditional of decaer is regular: decaería, decaerías, decaería, decaeríamos, decaeríais, decaerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: decaiga
The present subjunctive of decaer adds a 'g' to the stem: decaiga, decaigas, decaiga, decaigamos, decaigáis, decaigan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: decae
The imperative of decaer uses the 'g' stem for formal commands: decae, decaiga, decaigamos, decaed, decaigan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no decaigas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no decaigas, no decaiga, no decaigamos, no decaigáis, no decaigan.