encarar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
encarar — to face
The imperfect subjunctive of encarar (encarara, encaras, etc.) expresses hypothetical or past uncertain actions.
encarar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion in the past, or in hypothetical 'if' clauses referring to the past or unlikely present situations. It's like saying 'if I were to face...' or 'I wish I would face...'.
Notes on encarar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Encarar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., encarara/encárase), but -ra is more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo encarara el problema, lo resolvería.
If I were to face the problem, I would solve it.
yo
Ojalá él encarara la verdad.
I wish he would face the truth.
él/ella/usted
Sería mejor si ustedes encararan la situación juntos.
It would be better if you all faced the situation together.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Dudaba que tú encaras bien la situación.
I doubted that you would face the situation well.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of imperfect subjunctive, e.g., 'Si yo encaraba el problema...'.
Correct: Use 'Si yo encarara el problema...' for hypothetical situations.
Why: The imperfect indicative describes real past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive is for unreal or uncertain conditions.
Mistake: Using the -se form when -ra is more common or expected in certain regions.
Correct: While both are correct, 'encarara' is often preferred over 'encárase'.
Why: Usage varies regionally, but -ra is generally more widespread for this tense.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'encarar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: encaro
The present tense of encarar is regular: encaro, encaras, encara, encaramos, encaráis, encaran.
Preterite
yo: encaré
The preterite of encarar is regular: encaré, encaraste, encaró, encaramos, encarasteis, encararon.
Imperfect
yo: encaraba
The imperfect of encarar is regular: encaraba, encarabas, encaraba, encarábamos, encarabais, encaraban.
Future
yo: encararé
The future tense of encarar is regular: encararé, encararás, encarará, encararemos, encararéis, encararán.
Conditional
yo: encararía
The conditional of encarar is regular: encararía, encararías, encararía, encararíamos, encararíais, encararían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: encare
The present subjunctive of encarar is regular: encare, encares, encaremos, encaren, encaréis.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: encara
The imperative of encarar is regular: encara, encare, encaremos, encarar, encaren.
Negative Imperative
yo: no encares
The negative imperative of encarar uses the present subjunctive: no encares, no encare, no encaremos, no encaren, no encaréis.