dificultar Present Conjugation
dificultar — to make difficult
Dificultar is regular in the present tense: dificulto, dificultas, dificulta, dificultamos, dificultáis, dificultan.
dificultar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense of 'dificultar' for actions happening right now, habitual actions, or general truths. It means something or someone is currently making things difficult or usually makes them difficult.
Notes on dificultar in the Present
Dificultar is a regular -ar verb and conjugates normally in the present indicative tense.
Example Sentences
El exceso de burocracia dificulta los trámites.
Too much bureaucracy makes procedures difficult.
él/ella/usted
Yo no quiero dificultar tu trabajo.
I don't want to make your work difficult.
yo
Ellos siempre dificultan las cosas innecesariamente.
They always make things difficult unnecessarily.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros dificultamos la tarea para que piensen más.
We make the task difficult so they think more.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive 'dificultar' instead of a conjugated form in a sentence.
Correct: You need to conjugate the verb based on the subject: 'El tráfico dificulta', not 'El tráfico dificultar'.
Why: The infinitive is used after modal verbs (querer, poder) or prepositions, not as the main verb.
Mistake: Confusing 'dificulta' (él/ella/usted) with 'dificulto' (yo).
Correct: Remember that 'dificulta' is for third person singular, and 'dificulto' is for 'yo'.
Why: These are distinct forms in the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: dificultara
The imperfect subjunctive forms like 'dificultara' or 'dificultase' are used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
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.