dividir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
dividir — to divide
The imperfect subjunctive of dividir has two forms, e.g., dividiera/dividiera and dividiese/dividiese.
dividir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or polite requests, often following 'si' (if) clauses or verbs expressing doubt or emotion.
Notes on dividir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Dividir' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. The two sets of endings (-ra and -se) are interchangeable.
Example Sentences
Si yo dividiera el trabajo, sería más fácil.
If I divided the work, it would be easier.
yo
Me gustaría que tú dividieras la cuenta.
I would like you to divide the bill.
tú
Ojalá él dividiera sus posesiones.
I wish he would divide his possessions.
él/ella/usted
Era importante que nosotros dividiéramos las tareas.
It was important that we divided the tasks.
nosotros
Esperaba que ellos dividieran el botín.
I hoped they would divide the loot.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical past situations, use 'dividiera' or 'dividiese', not 'dividió'.
Why: The preterite indicates completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with unreal or hypothetical conditions.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'dividiera' and 'dividiese' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms.
Why: While regional or stylistic preferences exist, both sets of endings are grammatically valid.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: divido
The present tense of dividir is regular: divido, divides, divide, dividimos, dividís, dividen.
Preterite
yo: dividí
The preterite of dividir is regular: dividí, dividiste, dividió, dividimos, dividisteis, dividieron.
Imperfect
yo: dividía
The imperfect of dividir is regular: dividía, dividías, dividía, dividíamos, dividíais, dividían.
Future
yo: dividiré
The future tense of dividir is regular: dividiré, dividirás, dividirá, dividiremos, dividiréis, dividirán.
Conditional
yo: dividiría
The conditional of dividir is regular: dividiría, dividirías, dividiría, dividiríamos, dividiríais, dividirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: divida
The present subjunctive of dividir is: divida, dividas, dividamos, dividáis, dividan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: divide
The imperative of dividir uses the regular -ir command forms: divide, divida, dividamos, dividid, dividan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no dividas
Negative commands for dividir use the present subjunctive: no dividas, no divida, no dividamos, no dividáis, no dividan.