escalar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
escalar — to climb
The imperfect subjunctive 'escalara' or 'escalase' is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
escalar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this tense for 'if' clauses referring to a past hypothetical situation ('If I climbed...') or for making polite requests in the past ('I wish you would climb...').
Notes on escalar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Escalar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (escalara) or the -se form (escalase), with -ra being more common.
Example Sentences
Si escalara más a menudo, estaría más en forma.
If I climbed more often, I would be fitter.
yo
Me gustaría que escalaras esa cima conmigo.
I would like you to climb that peak with me.
tú
Él actuaría diferente si escalara la montaña.
He would act differently if he climbed the mountain.
él/ella/usted
Ellos nos ayudarían si escaláramos el muro.
They would help us if we climbed the wall.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: Use imperfect subjunctive: 'Si escalara...' not 'Si escalé...'.
Why: Hypothetical conditions in the past require the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the nosotros form 'escaláramos'.
Correct: The nosotros form needs the accent: 'escaláramos'.
Why: The accent is necessary to indicate the correct pronunciation and distinguish it from other forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: escalo
The present tense 'escalo' is used for actions happening now, habitual climbs, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: escalé
The preterite of 'escalar' is regular: escalé, escalaste, escaló, escalamos, escalasteis, escalaron, for completed climbs.
Imperfect
yo: escalaba
The imperfect 'escalaba' describes ongoing or habitual past climbing, or sets the scene.
Future
yo: escalaré
The future tense 'escalaré' indicates actions that will happen, like 'I will climb'.
Conditional
yo: escalaría
The conditional 'escalaría' expresses 'would' scenarios, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: escale
The present subjunctive 'escale' is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: escala
Use 'escala' for tú commands, 'escale' for usted, and 'escalen' for ustedes to tell someone to climb.
Negative Imperative
yo: no escales
Use 'no escales' for tú, 'no escale' for usted, and 'no escalen' for ustedes to forbid climbing.