dificultar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
dificultar — to make difficult
The imperfect subjunctive forms like 'dificultara' or 'dificultase' are used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
dificultar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, or to express wishes, doubts, or polite requests that relate to the past. For 'dificultar,' you might say 'If you *had made* it difficult...' or 'I wish you *would make* it difficult (in the past).'
Notes on dificultar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Dificultar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra or -se endings (e.g., dificultara/dificultase, dificultaras/dificultases). The -ra form is more common.
Example Sentences
Si el tráfico nos hubiera dificultado, habríamos llegado tarde.
If the traffic had made it difficult for us, we would have arrived late.
nosotros
Ojalá no nos dificultara tanto la tarea.
I wish it wouldn't make the task so difficult for us.
nosotros
Me pidió que no dificultara su salida.
He asked me not to make his departure difficult.
él/ella/usted
Creía que nos dificultaras la vida a propósito.
I thought you were making our lives difficult on purpose.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: For past hypothetical conditions, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si dificultara...' not 'Si dificultó...'.
Why: The preterite refers to completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with unreal or hypothetical past situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'dificultara' and 'dificultase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms. 'Dificultara' is more common.
Why: Learners may be unsure which ending to use or if they are interchangeable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: dificulto
Dificultar is regular in the present tense: dificulto, dificultas, dificulta, dificultamos, dificultáis, dificultan.
Preterite
yo: dificulté
Dificultar is regular in the preterite: dificulté, dificultaste, dificultó, dificultamos, dificultasteis, dificultaron.
Imperfect
yo: dificultaba
The imperfect of dificultar is regular: dificultaba, dificultabas, dificultaba, dificultábamos, dificultabais, dificultaban.
Future
yo: dificultaré
The future tense of dificultar is regular: dificultaré, dificultarás, dificultará, dificultaremos, dificultaréis, dificultarán.
Conditional
yo: dificultaría
The conditional of dificultar is regular: dificultaría, dificultarías, dificultaría, dificultaríamos, dificultaríais, dificultarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: dificulte
The present subjunctive 'dificulte', 'dificultemos', etc., follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: dificulta
Use 'dificulta' (tú), 'dificulte' (usted), 'dificultemos' (nosotros), 'dificultad' (vosotros), 'dificulten' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no dificultes
Use 'no dificultes' (tú), 'no dificulte' (usted), 'no dificultemos' (nosotros), 'no dificultéis' (vosotros), 'no dificulten' (ustedes), all based on the present subjunctive.