distinguir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
distinguir — to tell apart
The imperfect subjunctive uses the preterite stem: distinguiera, distinguieras, distinguiera...
distinguir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical situations in the past or after 'if' clauses, like 'If I could tell them apart...'
Notes on distinguir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is formed from the third person plural of the preterite (distinguieron). Since that form is regular, the imperfect subjunctive is also regular.
Example Sentences
Si yo distinguiera su letra, te lo diría.
If I recognized (distinguished) his handwriting, I would tell you.
yo
Me gustaría que nosotros distinguiéramos mejor los riesgos.
I would like us to distinguish the risks better.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the 'disting-' stem from the present subjunctive.
Correct: distinguiera
Why: The imperfect subjunctive always uses the preterite base, which includes the 'u' because the following vowel is 'i'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: distingo
The present of distinguir is mostly regular, but the 'yo' form changes to 'distingo' to keep the sound right.
Preterite
yo: distinguí
Distinguir is completely regular in the preterite: distinguí, distinguiste, distinguió, distinguimos, distinguisteis, distinguieron.
Imperfect
yo: distinguía
The imperfect of distinguir is regular: distinguía, distinguías, distinguía, distinguíamos, distinguíais, distinguían.
Future
yo: distinguiré
The future of distinguir is regular: just add the endings to the infinitive (distinguiré).
Conditional
yo: distinguiría
The conditional of distinguir is regular: añadiría, añadirías... wait, I mean: distinguiría, distinguirías, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: distinga
The present subjunctive follows the 'yo' form change: distinga, distingas, distinga, distingamos, distingáis, distingan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: distingue
Give commands to distinguish: distingue (tú), distinga (usted), distingamos (nosotros), distinguid (vosotros), distingan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no distingas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no distingas, no distinga, no distingamos, no distingáis, no distingan.