descuidar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
descuidar — to neglect
The present subjunctive of descuidar (descuide, descuides, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
descuidar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this tense when you want to express wishes, doubts, or emotions about someone neglecting something. For example, 'I hope you don't neglect your health' or 'It's unlikely that they neglect their duties.'
Notes on descuidar in the Present Subjunctive
Descuidar is regular in the present subjunctive. All forms are derived from the 'yo' form of the present indicative ('descuido') by changing the ending to -e for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Espero que no descuides tus estudios.
I hope you don't neglect your studies.
tú
Dudo que él descuide los detalles.
I doubt he neglects the details.
él/ella/usted
Quiero que descuidemos nuestras preocupaciones por un rato.
I want us to neglect our worries for a while.
nosotros
No creo que ellos descuiden la calidad.
I don't think they neglect the quality.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'Espero que no descuides...' not 'Espero que no descuidas...'.
Why: Expressions of hope, doubt, and emotion trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'no' with negative commands when using the subjunctive.
Correct: The negative command for tú is 'no descuides', not 'descuides'.
Why: While the forms are the same, the 'no' is crucial for a negative command.
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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.
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).