despojar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive

This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or conditions that were unlikely or contrary to fact. For example, 'Si me despojara de mis miedos, sería más feliz' (If I were to strip myself of my fears, I would be happier). It's also common after verbs expressing doubt or emotion about past events.

Notes on despojar in the Imperfect Subjunctive

Despojar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (despojara) or the -se form (despojase), though the -ra form is more common in many regions.

Example Sentences

• Ojalá yo me despojara de mi timidez.

  I wish I could shed my shyness.

  yo

• Si él se despojara de su orgullo, podríamos resolverlo.

  If he were to shed his pride, we could resolve it.

  él/ella/usted

• Dudaba que ellos se despojaran de sus armas tan fácilmente.

  I doubted they would give up their weapons so easily.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

• Si vosotros os despojarais de vuestras dudas, entenderíais.

  If you guys were to shed your doubts, you would understand.

  vosotros

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.

  Correct: For past hypotheticals, use 'Si me despojara...' not 'Si me despojé...'.

  Why: The preterite describes completed past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with unreal or hypothetical past conditions.

• Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.

  Correct: Both 'despojara' and 'despojase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms, but '-ra' is often more common.

  Why: Learners might be unsure which ending to use or might stick to only one, unaware of the alternative.

Related Tenses