despejar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
despejar — to clear
The imperfect subjunctive (despejara/despejase) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
despejar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
You'll use the imperfect subjunctive of 'despejar' when talking about past wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations that were contrary to fact in the past. Think 'If only I had cleared the path...' or 'I would have cleared the room if you had asked'.
Notes on despejar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Despejar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct and interchangeable (e.g., 'despejara' and 'despejase'). The -ra form is more common in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
Ojalá despejara el cielo pronto.
I wish the sky would clear up soon.
yo
Si yo tuviera tiempo, despejaría mi agenda.
If I had time, I would clear my schedule.
yo
Me pidió que despejara la mesa.
He asked me to clear the table.
yo
Ellos actuaron como si no despejaran ninguna duda.
They acted as if they weren't clearing up any doubts.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For a past hypothetical, use 'Si despejara...' not 'Si despejé...'.
Why: The preterite indicates a completed action, while the imperfect subjunctive is for unreal or hypothetical situations in the past.
Mistake: Mixing -ra and -se endings incorrectly.
Correct: Ensure you use either all -ra forms (despejara, despejaras...) or all -se forms (despejase, despejases...) within the same sentence.
Why: While both sets are correct, mixing them sounds unnatural.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: despejo
The present tense (despejo, despejas, etc.) describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: despejé
The preterite of despejar is regular: despejé, despejaste, despejó, despejamos, despejasteis, despejaron.
Imperfect
yo: despejaba
The imperfect (despejaba, despejabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: despejaré
The future tense (despejaré, despejarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: despejaría
The conditional (despejaría, despejarías, etc.) expresses hypotheticals, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: despeje
The present subjunctive (despeje, despejes, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: despeja
Use despeja, despeje, despejemos, despejen, despejad for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no despejes
Use no despejes, no despeje, no despejemos, no despejen, no despejéis for negative commands.