defender Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
defender — defend
The imperfect subjunctive is regular based on the preterite stem: defendiera, defendieras, defendiera, defendiéramos, defendierais, defendieran.
defender Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (hypotheticals) or when the main verb is in the past and expresses a wish or doubt.
Notes on defender in the Imperfect Subjunctive
It follows the third-person plural preterite (defendieron) as its base. It does not have the e > ie stem change.
Example Sentences
Si yo defendiera mejor, ganaría el partido.
If I defended better, I would win the match.
yo
Me gustaría que él defendiera su postura.
I would like him to defend his stance.
él/ella/usted
Si defendiéramos la ciudad, estaríamos a salvo.
If we defended the city, we would be safe.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Adding a stem change: 'defiendiera'.
Correct: defendiera
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is built from the preterite stem, which is regular for defender.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: defiendo
Defender has an e > ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: defendí
Defender is regular in the preterite: defendí, defendiste, defendió, defendimos, defendisteis, defendieron.
Imperfect
yo: defendía
Defender is regular in the imperfect: defendía, defendías, defendía, defendíamos, defendíais, defendían.
Future
yo: defenderé
The future of defender is regular: defenderé, defenderás, defenderá, defenderemos, defenderéis, defenderán.
Conditional
yo: defendería
The conditional of defender is regular: defendería, defenderías, defendería, defenderíamos, defenderíais, defenderían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: defienda
The present subjunctive of defender follows the e > ie stem change: defienda, defiendas, defienda, defendamos, defendáis, defiendan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: defiende
The imperative uses the stem change (e > ie) for most commands: defiende, defienda, defendamos, defended, defiendan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no defiendas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no defiendas, no defienda, no defendamos, no defendáis, no defiendan.