descuidar Negative Imperative Conjugation
descuidar — to neglect
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no descuides (tú), no descuide (usted), no descuidemos (nosotros), no descuiden (ustedes), no descuidéis (vosotros).
descuidar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use negative commands to tell someone *not* to do something. For 'descuidar,' it's a way to warn someone against neglecting something, like 'Don't neglect your responsibilities.'
Notes on descuidar in the Negative Imperative
Descuidar is regular in the negative imperative, which directly uses the present subjunctive forms. The vosotros form 'no descuidéis' follows the regular present subjunctive pattern.
Example Sentences
No descuides tus promesas.
Don't neglect your promises.
tú
No descuiden el pago a tiempo.
Don't neglect the payment on time.
ustedes
No descuidemos nuestra amistad.
Let's not neglect our friendship.
nosotros
Por favor, no descuide los detalles importantes.
Please, don't neglect the important details.
usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive with 'no'.
Correct: Use 'no descuides' (tú), not 'no descuidar'.
Why: Commands, even negative ones, require conjugated verb forms, not the infinitive.
Mistake: Confusing the tú and usted negative command forms.
Correct: Remember 'no descuides' for tú and 'no descuide' for usted.
Why: These are distinct forms from the present subjunctive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: descuido
The present tense of descuidar (descuido, descuidas, etc.) describes current actions, habits, or general truths about neglecting things.
Preterite
yo: descuidé
The preterite of descuidar is regular: descuidé, descuidaste, descuidó, descuidamos, descuidasteis, descuidaron.
Imperfect
yo: descuidaba
The imperfect of descuidar (descuidaba, descuidabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past neglect.
Future
yo: descuidaré
The future tense of descuidar (descuidaré, descuidarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability about neglecting something.
Conditional
yo: descuidaría
The conditional of descuidar (descuidaría, descuidarías, etc.) is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: descuide
The present subjunctive of descuidar (descuide, descuides, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: descuidara
The imperfect subjunctive of descuidar (descuidara/descuidase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: descuida
Use the imperative of descuidar for direct commands: descuida (tú), descuide (usted), descuidemos (nosotros), descuiden (ustedes), descuidad (vosotros).