empeorar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
empeorar — to get worse
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'empeorara' or 'empeorase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
empeorar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations in the past, expressing doubts, wishes, or emotions related to past events, or in polite requests.
Notes on empeorar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Empeorar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct, though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si la situación empeorara, llamaríamos a emergencias.
If the situation got worse, we would call emergency services.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá no empeoraras con la medicina.
I wish you wouldn't get worse with the medicine.
tú
Me preocupaba que el tiempo empeorase.
I was worried that the weather would get worse.
él/ella/usted
Quisiera que las cosas no empeoraran tan rápido.
I wish things wouldn't get worse so quickly.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or past wishes, use 'empeorara' or 'empeorase', not 'empeoraba'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for these types of clauses.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'empeorara' and 'empeorase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms.
Why: Different regions and contexts may prefer one over the other, but both are grammatically valid.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: empeoro
Use present forms like 'empeoro' and 'empeora' for current or habitual worsening.
Preterite
yo: empeoré
Use preterite forms like 'empeoré' and 'empeoró' for completed past actions of worsening.
Imperfect
yo: empeoraba
Use imperfect forms like 'empeoraba' for ongoing or habitual past worsening.
Future
yo: empeoraré
Use future forms like 'empeoraré' and 'empeorará' to talk about things that will get worse.
Conditional
yo: empeoraría
Use conditional forms like 'empeoraría' for hypothetical situations ('would get worse').
Present Subjunctive
yo: empeore
Use present subjunctive forms like 'empeore' for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: empeora
Use imperative forms like 'empeora' (tú) and 'empeore' (usted) for direct commands with 'empeorar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no empeores
Negative commands like 'no empeores' (tú) use the present subjunctive.