emplear Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
emplear — to use
The imperfect subjunctive of emplear (empleara/emplease) expresses past hypotheticals or wishes.
emplear Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, polite requests, or wishes that were unlikely to come true. It often appears in 'if' clauses.
Notes on emplear in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Emplear is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (empleara) or the -se form (emplease), with the -ra form being more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si empleara más tiempo, terminaría el proyecto.
If I used more time, I would finish the project.
yo
Me gustaría que tú emplearas tu talento en algo útil.
I would like you to use your talent for something useful.
tú
Ojalá él emplease más paciencia con los niños.
I wish he would use more patience with the children.
él/ella/usted
Ellos habrían ganado si hubieran empleado una estrategia diferente.
They would have won if they had used a different strategy.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Si vosotros emplearais más cuidado, no habría accidentes.
If you all used more care, there wouldn't be accidents.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: For hypotheticals, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si empleara...' not 'Si empleaba...'.
Why: The imperfect indicative describes past reality, while the imperfect subjunctive introduces hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.
Mistake: Forgetting to conjugate the verb in the subordinate clause when the main clause is conditional.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive in the 'if' clause: 'Si empleara más dinero, compraría un coche.'
Why: This structure ('conditional' + 'imperfect subjunctive') is standard for hypothetical situations.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: empleo
The present tense of emplear (empleo, empleas, emplea...) is used for current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: empleé
The preterite of emplear is regular: empleé, empleaste, empleó, empleamos, empleasteis, emplearon.
Imperfect
yo: empleaba
The imperfect of emplear (empleaba, empleabas...) describes past habits or ongoing situations.
Future
yo: emplearé
The future tense of emplear (emplearé, emplearás...) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: emplearía
The conditional of emplear (emplearía, emplearías...) expresses hypotheticals, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: emplee
The present subjunctive of emplear (emplee, emplees, empleemos, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: emplea
Use the imperative of emplear for direct commands: ¡emplea!, ¡emplee!, ¡empleemos!, ¡empleen!, ¡emplead!
Negative Imperative
yo: no emplees
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: ¡no emplees!, ¡no emplee!, ¡no empleemos!, ¡no empleen!, ¡no empleéis!