diferenciar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
diferenciar — to distinguish
The imperfect subjunctive of diferenciar uses the preterite stem 'diferenci-': diferenciara, diferenciaras, diferenciara.
diferenciar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If I distinguished...') or when the main verb is in the past and triggers the subjunctive.
Notes on diferenciar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Diferenciar is regular. The 'nosotros' form 'diferenciáramos' always has an accent on the 'á'.
Example Sentences
Si yo diferenciara los pájaros, sería biólogo.
If I distinguished the birds, I would be a biologist.
yo
El jefe pidió que diferenciáramos los informes.
The boss asked that we distinguish the reports.
nosotros
Me gustaría que ellos diferenciaran sus roles.
I would like them to distinguish their roles.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: diferenciaramos
Correct: diferenciáramos
Why: The 'nosotros' form in the imperfect subjunctive always requires an accent on the vowel before the -ramos.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: diferencio
Diferenciar is regular in the present tense: diferencio, diferencias, diferencia, diferenciamos, diferenciáis, diferencian.
Preterite
yo: diferencié
The preterite of diferenciar is regular: diferencié, diferenciaste, diferenció, diferenciamos, diferenciasteis, diferenciaron.
Imperfect
yo: diferenciaba
The imperfect of diferenciar uses standard -aba endings: diferenciaba, diferenciabas, diferenciaba, diferenciábamos, diferenciabais, diferenciaban.
Future
yo: diferenciaré
For the future tense of diferenciar, add the endings to the infinitive: diferenciaré, diferenciarás, diferenciará, etc.
Conditional
yo: diferenciaría
The conditional of diferenciar is formed by adding -ía endings to the infinitive: diferenciaría, diferenciarías, diferenciaría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: diferencie
The present subjunctive of diferenciar changes the 'a' to 'e': diferencie, diferencies, diferencie, diferenciemos, diferenciéis, diferencien.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: diferencia
The imperative of diferenciar gives commands: diferencia (tú), diferenciad (vosotros), or diferencie (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no diferencies
The negative imperative of diferenciar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no diferencies, no diferencie.