eliminar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
eliminar — eliminate
The imperfect subjunctive of eliminar is regular: eliminara, eliminaras, eliminara, elimináramos, eliminarais, eliminaran (or -ra forms).
eliminar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'eliminar' for hypothetical situations in the past, or to express wishes and doubts about past events. It's often used in 'if' clauses about unreal conditions.
Notes on eliminar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Eliminar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., eliminara/eliminase), with -ra being more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo eliminara los malos hábitos, estaría más sano.
If I eliminated bad habits, I would be healthier.
yo
Ojalá tú eliminaras esos miedos.
I wish you would eliminate those fears.
tú
Era importante que él eliminara el error del informe.
It was important that he eliminate the error from the report.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que elimináramos las distracciones.
They asked us to eliminate the distractions.
nosotros
Dudaba que ellos eliminaran la propuesta.
I doubted they would eliminate the proposal.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'eliminara' instead of 'eliminó' or 'eliminaba' in hypothetical or wish clauses.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for expressing uncertainty, doubt, or hypothetical situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: While both are correct, be consistent. 'eliminara' is generally more common.
Why: Learners might get confused by the two sets of endings (-ra/-ras/-ra/-ramos/-rais/-ran and -se/-ses/-se/-semos/-seis/-sen).
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'eliminar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: elimino
The present indicative of eliminar is regular: elimino, eliminas, elimina, eliminamos, elimináis, eliminan.
Preterite
yo: eliminé
The preterite of eliminar is regular: eliminé, eliminaste, eliminó, eliminamos, eliminasteis, eliminaron.
Imperfect
yo: eliminaba
The imperfect of eliminar is regular: eliminaba, eliminabas, eliminaba, eliminábamos, eliminabais, eliminaban.
Future
yo: eliminaré
The future of eliminar is regular, using the infinitive stem: eliminaré, eliminarás, eliminará, eliminaremos, eliminaréis, eliminarán.
Conditional
yo: eliminaría
The conditional of eliminar is regular: eliminaría, eliminarías, eliminaría, eliminaríamos, eliminaríais, eliminarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: elimine
The present subjunctive of eliminar is regular: elimine, elimines, elimine, eliminemos, eliminéis, eliminen.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: elimina
The imperative of eliminar is regular: elimina (tú), elimine (usted), eliminemos (nosotros), eliminen (ustedes), eliminad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no elimines
The negative imperative of eliminar uses the present subjunctive: no elimines (tú), no elimine (usted), no eliminemos (nosotros), no eliminen (ustedes), no eliminéis (vosotros).