delatar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
delatar — to report
The imperfect subjunctive (delatara/delatase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts about past events.
delatar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'delatar' when talking about hypothetical situations in the past, expressing wishes or doubts that were relevant in the past, or in polite requests. For instance, 'Ojalá no delatara a nadie.' (I wish he wouldn't report anyone.) or 'Si delatara el secreto, habría problemas.' (If he reported the secret, there would be problems.)
Notes on delatar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Delatar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (delatara) or the -se form (delatase), with the -ra form being more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo delatara el secreto, me castigarían.
If I reported the secret, they would punish me.
yo
Él me pidió que no delatara su nombre.
He asked me not to report his name.
yo
Ojalá ellos no delataran a los culpables.
I wish they wouldn't report the culprits.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Sería mejor que usted no delatase nada.
It would be better if you didn't report anything.
Ella actuó como si no delatara a nadie.
She acted as if she weren't reporting anyone.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: In hypothetical or wish clauses, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si delatara...' not 'Si delataba...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for these specific grammatical structures expressing unreal conditions or wishes.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'delatara' and 'delatase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms. 'Delatara' is generally more common.
Why: Spanish offers two equivalent sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: delato
The present tense of 'delatar' is regular: delato, delatas, delata, delatamos, delatáis, delatan.
Preterite
yo: delaté
The preterite of 'delatar' is regular: delaté, delataste, delató, delatamos, delatasteis, delataron.
Imperfect
yo: delataba
The imperfect of 'delatar' is regular: delataba, delatabas, delataba, delatábamos, delatabais, delataban.
Future
yo: delataré
The future tense of 'delatar' is regular: delataré, delatarás, delatará, delataremos, delataréis, delatarán.
Conditional
yo: delataría
The conditional of 'delatar' is regular: delataría, delatarías, delataría, delataríamos, delataríais, delatarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: delate
The present subjunctive (delate, delates, delatemos, delaten, delatéis) is used after wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: delata
Delata (tú), delate (usted), delatemos (nosotros), delaten (ustedes), delatad (vosotros) are commands to report.
Negative Imperative
yo: no delates
No delates (tú), no delate (usted), no delatemos (nosotros), no delaten (ustedes), no delatéis (vosotros) are negative commands not to report.