
encarcelar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
encarcelar — to imprison
The present subjunctive of encarcelar is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions, like 'Espero que encarcieles' (I hope you imprison).
encarcelar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive of encarcelar when expressing wishes, doubts, emotions, or uncertainty about someone imprisoning someone or something. It's often triggered by phrases like 'Espero que...', 'Dudo que...', or 'Quiero que...'.
Notes on encarcelar in the Present Subjunctive
Encarcelar is regular in the present subjunctive. The forms are derived from the 'yo' form of the present indicative ('encarcielo'), dropping the '-o' and adding the opposite vowel ending (-e for -ar verbs).
Example Sentences
Espero que el juez encarciele al agresor.
I hope the judge imprisons the aggressor.
él/ella/usted
Dudo que ellos encarcelen a los manifestantes.
I doubt they will imprison the protesters.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Quiero que tú encarcieles la entrada a las 8 PM.
I want you to lock the entrance at 8 PM.
tú
Es importante que nosotros encarcelemos a los culpables.
It is important that we imprison the guilty ones.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after expressions of doubt or desire.
Correct: Use the subjunctive: 'Dudo que encarcelen' not 'Dudo que encarcelan'.
Why: Expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Forgetting to change the vowel ending for -ar verbs in the present subjunctive.
Correct: The endings for -ar verbs are -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en. So it's 'encarcieles', not 'encarcelas'.
Why: Spanish subjunctive endings for -ar verbs are 'e' based, not 'a' based.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'encarcelar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: encarcielo
The present tense of encarcelar means 'to imprison' or 'is imprisoning,' like 'Yo encarcielo' (I imprison).
Preterite
yo: encarcelé
The preterite of encarcelar is regular: encarcelé, encarcelaste, encarceló, encarcelamos, encarcelasteis, encarcelaron.
Imperfect
yo: encarcelaba
The imperfect of encarcelar describes ongoing or habitual past imprisonment, like 'Yo encarcelaba' (I used to imprison).
Future
yo: encarcelaré
The future tense of encarcelar indicates future actions, like 'Yo encarcelaré' (I will imprison).
Conditional
yo: encarcelaría
The conditional of encarcelar expresses hypothetical actions, like 'Yo encarcelaría' (I would imprison).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: encarcelara
The imperfect subjunctive of encarcelar expresses past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'si encarcelara' (if I were to imprison).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: encarciela
The imperative of encarcelar has commands like '¡Encarcela!' (you, singular) and '¡Encarcelad!' (you, plural, Spain).
Negative Imperative
yo: no encarcieles
Negative commands with encarcelar use the present subjunctive, like '¡No encarceles!' (you, singular).