decapitar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
decapitar — to behead
The imperfect subjunctive of decapitar (e.g., decapitara, decapitáramos) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
decapitar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is perfect for talking about hypothetical situations in the past or expressing wishes and doubts related to past events. For example, 'If I had known you would behead the chicken, I would have stopped you.'
Notes on decapitar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Decapitar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms are correct, though the -ra form (decapitara) is generally more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo decapitara la rosa, mi abuela se enfadaría.
If I were to behead the rose, my grandmother would get angry.
yo
Ojalá él no decapitara la planta vieja.
I wish he wouldn't behead the old plant.
él/ella/usted
Dudaba que ustedes decapitáramos el árbol.
I doubted that you all would behead the tree.
nosotros
Quería que tú decapitáras el muñeco de nieve.
I wanted you to behead the snowman.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect subjunctive with the preterite.
Correct: Use 'decapitara' or 'decapitarais' for hypothetical or past wishes, not 'decapitó' or 'decapitaron'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive deals with non-factual or uncertain situations, often in the past, while the preterite describes completed actions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: decapito
The present tense of decapitar is regular: decapito, decapitas, decapita, decapitamos, decapitáis, decapitan.
Preterite
yo: decapité
The preterite of decapitar is regular: decapité, decapitaste, decapitó, decapitamos, decapitasteis, decapitaron.
Imperfect
yo: decapitaba
The imperfect tense of decapitar is regular: decapitaba, decapitabas, decapitaba, decapitábamos, decapitabais, decapitaban.
Future
yo: decapitaré
The future tense of decapitar is regular: decapitaré, decapitarás, decapitará, decapitaremos, decapitaréis, decapitarán.
Conditional
yo: decapitaría
The conditional of decapitar is regular: decapitaría, decapitarías, decapitaría, decapitaríamos, decapitaríais, decapitarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: decapite
The present subjunctive of decapitar (decapite, decapites, decapitemos, decapiten) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: decapita
Decapita (tú), decapite (usted), decapitemos (nosotros), decapiten (ustedes), decapitad (vosotros) are the imperative forms for decapitar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no decapites
Negative commands for decapitar use the present subjunctive with 'no': no decapites (tú), no decapite (usted), no decapitemos (nosotros), no decapiten (ustedes), no decapitéis (vosotros).