derribar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
derribar — to knock down
Present subjunctive (e.g., 'derribe') is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
derribar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty. For 'derribar', you might say 'Espero que derriben el edificio' (I hope they knock down the building).
Notes on derribar in the Present Subjunctive
'Derribar' is regular in the present subjunctive. The forms are derived from the 'yo' form of the present indicative ('derribo').
Example Sentences
Quiero que derribes esa pared.
I want you to knock down that wall.
tú
Dudo que él derribe la estatua.
I doubt that he will knock down the statue.
él/ella/usted
Es importante que nosotros derribemos los prejuicios.
It's important that we break down prejudices.
nosotros
Temo que derriben el viejo teatro.
I fear they will knock down the old theater.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the present subjunctive.
Correct: After verbs of wishing or doubting, use the subjunctive: 'Espero que derribas' is wrong; 'Espero que derribes' is correct.
Why: Expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, and uncertainty trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Forgetting the vowel change in the subjunctive for -ar verbs.
Correct: The stem vowel changes from 'e' to 'e' in the present subjunctive for 'derribar': 'derribe', 'derribes', etc.
Why: This is a regular pattern for -ar verbs in the present subjunctive, derived from the first-person singular present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: derribo
Present tense 'derribo', 'derribas', etc., describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: derribé
The preterite of 'derribar' is regular: derribé, derribaste, derribó, derribamos, derribasteis, derribaron.
Imperfect
yo: derribaba
Imperfect 'derribaba' describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: derribaré
Future tense 'derribaré', 'derribarás' etc., predicts or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: derribaría
Conditional 'derribaría' expresses hypotheticals ('would') or polite requests.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: derribara
The imperfect subjunctive (e.g., 'derribara', 'derribase') expresses past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: derriba
Use imperative forms like 'derriba' (tú) for direct commands with 'derribar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no derribes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive forms, like 'no derribes' (tú).