despachar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
despachar — to serve
The imperfect subjunctive of despachar (-ra form): despachara, despacharas, despachara, despacháramos, despacharais, despacharan.
despachar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive of 'despachar' is used for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or polite requests that didn't necessarily happen. For example, 'Si yo despachara los pedidos, sería más rápido' means 'If I dispatched the orders, it would be faster.' It's also used after certain past tense expressions of doubt or emotion.
Notes on despachar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Despachar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are possible (-ra: despachara, -se: despachase), but the -ra form is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Ojalá despachara más rápido el mesero.
I wish the waiter would serve faster.
él/ella/usted
Si tú despacharas el café, no se enfriaría.
If you served the coffee, it wouldn't get cold.
tú
Nos pidieron que despacháramos el paquete ayer.
They asked us to dispatch the package yesterday.
nosotros
Ellos querían que despacharan la comida de inmediato.
They wanted them to serve the food immediately.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Sería genial si vosotros despacharais más rápido.
It would be great if you all served faster.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses, like 'Si despachaba la comida...'.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si despachara la comida...'
Why: Hypothetical or unreal conditions in the past require the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, or using the wrong one for the region.
Correct: While both exist, the -ra form (despachara) is generally more common and safer to use unless you know regional preferences.
Why: Regional variations exist, but the -ra form is widely understood and accepted.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: despacho
The present indicative of despachar is regular: despacho, despachas, despacha, despachamos, despacháis, despachan.
Preterite
yo: despaché
The preterite of despachar is regular: despaché, despachaste, despachó, despachamos, despachasteis, despacharon.
Imperfect
yo: despachaba
The imperfect of despachar is regular: despachaba, despachabas, despachaba, despachábamos, despachabais, despachaban.
Future
yo: despacharé
The future of despachar is regular: despacharé, despacharás, despachará, despacharemos, despacharéis, despacharán.
Conditional
yo: despacharía
The conditional of despachar is regular: despacharía, despacharías, despacharía, despacharíamos, despacharíais, despacharían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: despache
The present subjunctive of despachar: despache, despaches, despache, despachemos, despachéis, despachen.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: despacha
The imperative of despachar uses specific command forms: despacha (tú), despache (usted), despachemos (nosotros), despachen (ustedes), despachad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no despaches
Negative commands for despachar use the present subjunctive: no despaches (tú), no despache (usted), no despachemos (nosotros), no despachen (ustedes), no despachéis (vosotros).