descomponer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
descomponer — to break down
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'descompusie-' stem: descompusiera, descompusieras.
descomponer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use it in 'if' clauses (hypotheticals) or when the main verb is in the past, like 'Tenía miedo de que se descompusiera'.
Notes on descomponer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is derived from the third-person plural of the preterite (descompusieron), keeping the 'pus' stem.
Example Sentences
Si se descompusiera el aire acondicionado, moriríamos de calor.
If the air conditioning were to break, we would die of heat.
él/ella/usted
Me pidió que descompusiera la caja en piezas.
He asked me to break the box down into pieces.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'descomponiera'.
Correct: The correct stem is 'descompusiera'.
Why: It must match the irregular preterite stem 'pus'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: descompongo
The present of descomponer is irregular in the 'yo' form (descompongo), following the pattern of poner.
Preterite
yo: descompuse
The preterite of descomponer is highly irregular, using the 'pus-' stem: descompuse, descompusiste, descompuso.
Imperfect
yo: descomponía
The imperfect of descomponer is regular: descomponía, descomponías, descomponía.
Future
yo: descompondré
The future of descomponer uses the irregular stem 'descompondr-': descompondré, descompondrás.
Conditional
yo: descompondría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'descompondr-': descompondría, descompondrías.
Present Subjunctive
yo: descomponga
The present subjunctive uses the 'descompong-' stem: descomponga, descompongas.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: descompón
The affirmative imperative has a short 'tú' form: descompón.
Negative Imperative
yo: no descompongas
The negative imperative uses the 'no' + present subjunctive: no descompongas.