despreciar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
despreciar — to look down on
Use 'desprecie' (yo/él/ella/Ud.) and 'desprecien' (ellos/ellas/Uds.) after wishes, doubts, and emotions.
despreciar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is triggered by expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty. If someone wishes you *don't* look down on something, or doubts that you *do*, you'll use this tense.
Notes on despreciar in the Present Subjunctive
Despreciar is regular in the present subjunctive. The forms are derived from the 'yo' form of the present indicative ('desprecio').
Example Sentences
Espero que no desprecies mi ayuda.
I hope you don't look down on my help.
tú
Dudo que él desprecie tanto el trabajo.
I doubt that he looks down on the job so much.
él/ella/usted
Quiero que ustedes no desprecien las reglas.
I want you all not to look down on the rules.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative when the subjunctive is required.
Correct: After 'espero que' or 'dudo que', use 'desprecies' (subjunctive), not 'desprecias' (indicative).
Why: Certain trigger phrases mandate the use of the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both are 'desprecie' in the present subjunctive.
Why: These forms are identical, so context is key.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: desprecio
The present tense of despreciar (desprecio, desprecias, desprecia...) describes current actions or habits.
Preterite
yo: desprecié
The preterite of despreciar is regular: desprecié, despreciaste, despreció, despreciamos, despreciasteis, despreciaron.
Imperfect
yo: despreciaba
The imperfect of despreciar (despreciaba, despreciabas...) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: despreciaré
The future tense of despreciar (despreciaré, despreciarás...) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: despreciaría
The conditional of despreciar (despreciaría, despreciarías...) expresses 'would' actions or polite requests.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: despreciara
The imperfect subjunctive of despreciar (e.g., despreciara, despreciaras) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desprecia
Use 'desprecia' (tú) and 'desprecien' (ustedes) for direct commands with despreciar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desprecies
Negative commands for despreciar use the present subjunctive: 'no desprecies', 'no desprecien'.