encubrir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
encubrir — to hide
The imperfect subjunctive of encubrir (encubriera, encubrieras, etc.) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and doubts.
encubrir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or necessity in the past, or in hypothetical 'if' clauses referring to the past or present. For 'encubrir', it could be used to talk about wishing someone hadn't hidden something, or if they had hidden it, then something else would have happened.
Notes on encubrir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Encubrir is regular in the imperfect subjunctive, using the -ra or -se endings. Both forms are common, though -ra is often preferred. The stem remains 'encubrier-'.
Example Sentences
Ojalá no encubrieras tantos problemas.
I wish you wouldn't hide so many problems.
tú
Si él encubriera la verdad, las consecuencias serían graves.
If he were to hide the truth, the consequences would be serious.
él/ella/usted
Era importante que todos encubriéramos la información sensible.
It was important that we all hide the sensitive information.
nosotros
Dudaba que ellos encubrieran el fraude.
I doubted that they were hiding the fraud.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: In conditional clauses like 'If I hid...', use 'Si encubriera...' not 'Si encubrí...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'encubriera' and 'encubriese' are correct, but consistency matters.
Why: While both are grammatically valid, learners might incorrectly mix them or use the wrong stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: encubro
The present tense of encubrir (encubro, encubres, encubre, etc.) describes actions happening now or habitual hiding.
Preterite
yo: encubrí
The preterite of encubrir is regular: encubrí, encubriste, encubrió, encubrimos, encubristeis, encubrieron.
Imperfect
yo: encubría
The imperfect of encubrir (encubría, encubrías, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past hiding.
Future
yo: encubriré
The future tense of encubrir (encubriré, encubrirás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: encubriría
The conditional of encubrir (encubriría, encubrirías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, politeness, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: encubra
The present subjunctive of encubrir (encubra, encubras, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: encubre
Encubrir's imperative forms include tú encubre, usted encubra, nosotros encubramos, ustedes encubran, and vosotros encubrid.
Negative Imperative
yo: no encubras
Negative commands for encubrir use the present subjunctive: no encubras, no encubra, no encubramos, no encubran, no encubráis.