defenderse Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
defenderse — to defend oneself
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'defendier-' stem: me defendiera, te defendieras...
defenderse Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for 'if' clauses (hypotheticals) or when the main verb is in the past and expresses a wish or emotion regarding defense.
Notes on defenderse in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is formed from the third-person plural of the preterite (defendieron). It is regular within its own rules.
Example Sentences
Si me defendiera, no estaríamos aquí.
If I defended myself, we wouldn't be here.
yo
Me pidió que me defendiera mejor.
He asked me to defend myself better.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Si me defendiese...
Correct: Both -ra and -se are correct, but -ra is more common.
Why: Learners often worry about the -se form; while correct, -ra is the standard in most spoken Spanish.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me defiendo
The present of defenderse is stem-changing (e-ie) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: me defendí
The preterite of defenderse is completely regular, following standard -er endings.
Imperfect
yo: me defendía
The imperfect of defenderse is regular: me defendía, te defendías, se defendía...
Future
yo: me defenderé
The future of defenderse is regular: me defenderé, te defenderás, se defenderá...
Conditional
yo: me defendería
The conditional is regular: me defendería, te defenderías, se defendería...
Present Subjunctive
yo: me defienda
The present subjunctive keeps the e-ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: defiéndete
In the affirmative imperative, pronouns attach to the end: defiéndete, defiéndase.
Negative Imperative
yo: no te defiendas
The negative imperative uses 'no' + present subjunctive: no te defiendas.