enfatizar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
enfatizar — to emphasize
The imperfect subjunctive of enfatizar is regular, using the -ra or -se endings: enfatizara, enfatizaras, enfatizara, etc.
enfatizar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical situations or when the main verb triggering the subjunctive is in the past, such as asking someone to emphasize something yesterday.
Notes on enfatizar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Enfatizar is regular in this tense. Unlike the present subjunctive, the 'z' remains because it is followed by 'a', not 'e'.
Example Sentences
Si enfatizaras más tus logros, conseguirías el empleo.
If you emphasized your achievements more, you would get the job.
tú
Me pidió que enfatizara la importancia del ahorro.
He asked me to emphasize the importance of saving.
yo
Ojalá enfatizaran mejor los riesgos.
I wish they would emphasize the risks better.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: enfaticara
Correct: enfatizara
Why: Learners often over-apply the z-to-c change. That change only happens before 'e', not before the 'a' used in this tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: enfatizo
Enfatizar is completely regular in the present indicative: enfatizo, enfatizas, enfatiza, enfatizamos, enfatizáis, enfatizan.
Preterite
yo: enfaticé
Enfatizar is regular except for the 'yo' form, which changes to 'enfaticé' to preserve the sound.
Imperfect
yo: enfatizaba
The imperfect of enfatizar is regular: enfatizaba, enfatizabas, enfatizaba, enfatizábamos, enfatizabais, enfatizaban.
Future
yo: enfatizaré
The future of enfatizar is regular: enfatizaré, enfatizarás, enfatizará, enfatizaremos, enfatizaréis, enfatizarán.
Conditional
yo: enfatizaría
The conditional of enfatizar is regular: enfatizaría, enfatizarías, enfatizaría, enfatizaríamos, enfatizaríais, enfatizarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: enfatice
Enfatizar undergoes a spelling change from 'z' to 'c' in all persons: enfatice, enfatices, enfatice, enfaticemos, enfaticéis, enfaticen.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: enfatiza
The affirmative imperative uses 'enfatiza' (tú) and 'enfaticen' (ustedes), with the z-to-c change in formal forms.
Negative Imperative
yo: no enfatices
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no enfatices, no enfatice, no enfaticen.