descuidar Present Conjugation
descuidar — to neglect
The present tense of descuidar (descuido, descuidas, etc.) describes current actions, habits, or general truths about neglecting things.
descuidar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for things that happen regularly or are generally true about neglecting things. For instance, 'He often neglects to check his email' or 'We don't neglect our responsibilities.'
Notes on descuidar in the Present
Descuidar is regular in the present indicative. All forms are standard for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo descuido mi jardín en invierno.
I neglect my garden in winter.
yo
¿Tú descuidas tus deberes a menudo?
Do you often neglect your duties?
tú
Ella descuida las pequeñas cosas.
She neglects the small things.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros no descuidamos a nuestros clientes.
We do not neglect our clients.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present subjunctive for facts or habits.
Correct: Use 'Él descuida la tarea' (He neglects the homework), not 'Él descuide la tarea'.
Why: The present indicative is for stating facts or habits; the subjunctive is for doubt, wishes, etc.
Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating for vosotros.
Correct: The correct form is 'descuidáis', not 'descuidas'.
Why: The vosotros form for -ar verbs in the present indicative ends in -áis.
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Related Tenses
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).
Negative Imperative
yo: no descuides
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no descuides (tú), no descuide (usted), no descuidemos (nosotros), no descuiden (ustedes), no descuidéis (vosotros).