designar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
designar — to appoint
The imperfect subjunctive of designar (e.g., designara, designaras) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
designar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is great for talking about past 'what ifs' or expressing wishes and doubts that were relevant in the past. For instance, 'Si yo designara al nuevo director...' (If I were to appoint the new director...). It's also used in formal contexts for polite requests.
Notes on designar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Designar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You take the stem from the 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' preterite form ('designaron' -> 'designar-') and add the standard imperfect subjunctive endings (-a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -an).
Example Sentences
Me gustaría que tú designaras un mejor candidato.
I would like you to appoint a better candidate.
tú
Si él designara al comité, sería más justo.
If he were to appoint the committee, it would be fairer.
él/ella/usted
Ellos querían que nosotros designáramos un representante.
They wanted us to appoint a representative.
nosotros
Ojalá ellos designaran a alguien con experiencia.
Hopefully, they would appoint someone with experience.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive, e.g., 'Si designaba' instead of 'Si designara'.
Correct: For hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations in the past, use 'designara' or 'designara'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is specifically for these types of clauses (like 'if' clauses expressing unreal conditions).
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, e.g., using 'designase' when 'designara' is preferred.
Correct: While both forms are technically correct, the -ra form (designara, designaras, etc.) is much more common and generally preferred.
Why: Usage patterns show a strong preference for the -ra form in most Spanish-speaking regions.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: designo
The present tense of designar (designo, designas, designa...) describes current or habitual acts of appointing.
Preterite
yo: designé
The preterite of designar (designé, designaste, designó...) marks completed actions of appointing in the past.
Imperfect
yo: designaba
The imperfect of designar (designaba, designabas...) describes past habitual or ongoing appointments.
Future
yo: designaré
The future tense of designar (designaré, designarás...) indicates future appointments or probability.
Conditional
yo: designaría
The conditional of designar (designaría, designarías...) expresses hypotheticals, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: designe
The present subjunctive of designar (e.g., designe, designes) expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: designa
Use the imperative of designar for direct commands like 'designa' (tú) or 'designen' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no designes
Negative commands with 'designar' use the present subjunctive, like 'no designes' (tú) or 'no designen' (ustedes).