desperdiciar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
desperdiciar — to waste
Use present subjunctive forms like 'desperdicie' (yo/él/ella/Ud.) and 'desperdicies' (tú) after expressions of doubt, emotion, or desire.
desperdiciar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
This is your go-to for expressing wishes, doubts, emotions, or uncertainty. For example, 'Espero que no desperdicies tu energía.' (I hope you don't waste your energy.) or 'Dudo que él desperdicie la oportunidad.' (I doubt he will waste the opportunity.)
Notes on desperdiciar in the Present Subjunctive
'Desperdiciar' is regular in the present subjunctive. It follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, with a stem change in the 'yo' form that carries over to other forms: desperdicio -> desperdicie, desperdicies, etc.
Example Sentences
Quiero que aproveches y no desperdicies el tiempo.
I want you to take advantage and not waste time.
tú
Es importante que no desperdiciemos recursos.
It's important that we don't waste resources.
nosotros
Dudo que ellos desperdicien la oportunidad.
I doubt they will waste the opportunity.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me alegra que usted no desperdicie su potencial.
I'm happy that you (formal) are not wasting your potential.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after expressions of doubt or desire.
Correct: Use the present subjunctive, e.g., 'Espero que no desperdicies' instead of 'Espero que no desperdicias'.
Why: Expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, etc., trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Forgetting the stem change in the 'yo' form.
Correct: The yo form is 'desperdicio', which influences the subjunctive: 'desperdicie', 'desperdicies', etc.
Why: This is a common pattern for -ar verbs where the 'yo' form in the present indicative has a stem change.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'desperdiciar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: desperdicio
Use present forms like 'desperdicio' (yo) and 'desperdicia' (él/ella/Ud.) for actions happening now or habitual wasting.
Preterite
yo: desperdicié
Use preterite forms like 'desperdicié' (yo) and 'desperdició' (él/ella/Ud.) for completed actions of wasting in the past.
Imperfect
yo: desperdiciaba
Use imperfect forms like 'desperdiciaba' (yo) and 'desperdiciaban' (ellos/ellas/Uds.) for ongoing or habitual past actions of wasting.
Future
yo: desperdiciaré
Use future forms like 'desperdiciaré' (yo) and 'desperdiciará' (él/ella/Ud.) to talk about actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: desperdiciaría
Use conditional forms like 'desperdiciaría' (yo) and 'desperdiciarían' (ellos/ellas/Uds.) for hypothetical situations ('would waste') or polite requests.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desperdiciara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'desperdiciara' or 'desperdiciase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desperdicia
Use imperative forms like 'desperdicia' (tú) and 'desperdicie' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desperdicies
Negative commands like 'no desperdicies' (tú) and 'no desperdicie' (usted) use the present subjunctive.