
escoltar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
escoltar — to escort
The imperfect subjunctive of escoltar, like escolta(ra/ras/ra/ramos/rais/ran), is used for hypothetical past situations or wishes.
escoltar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is for expressing hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts in the past. For example, 'If I were to escort you...' or 'I wish you would escort me...'. It's also common in polite requests or suggestions that relate to the past.
Notes on escoltar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Escolta is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can form it using either the -ra or -se endings (e.g., escoltara or escoltase). The -ra form is generally more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo te escoltara, no te habrías perdido.
If I were to escort you, you wouldn't have gotten lost.
yo
Me gustaría que tú escoltaras a mi hermano a la fiesta.
I would like you to escort my brother to the party.
tú
Él actuaría como si no lo escoltaran.
He would act as if they weren't escorting him.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Ojalá ella nos escoltara a la salida del concierto.
Hopefully she would escort us out of the concert.
él/ella/usted
Si vosotros nos escoltarais, sería más fácil.
If you all escorted us, it would be easier.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical past conditions or wishes, use forms like 'escoltara' or 'escoltase'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for expressing hypothetical or non-factual situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'escoltara' and 'escoltase' are correct, but '-ra' is more common in many regions.
Why: While both are grammatically valid, regional preferences exist.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'escoltar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: escolto
The present tense of escoltar (escolto, escoltas, escolta, etc.) describes actions happening now or habitual escorts.
Preterite
yo: escolté
The preterite of escoltar is regular: escolté, escoltaste, escoltó, escoltamos, escoltasteis, escoltaron.
Imperfect
yo: escoltaba
The imperfect of escoltar (escoltaba, escoltabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past escorts.
Future
yo: escoltaré
The future tense of escoltar (escoltaré, escoltarás, etc.) is used for actions that will definitely happen.
Conditional
yo: escoltaría
The conditional of escoltar (escoltaría, escoltarías, etc.) expresses 'would' escort, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: escolte
The present subjunctive of escoltar (escolte, escoltes, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and after certain expressions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: escolta
Use the imperative of escoltar for direct commands: escolta (tú), escolte (usted), escoltemos (nosotros), escolten (ustedes), escoltad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no escoltes
Negative commands for escoltar use the present subjunctive: no escoltes (tú), no escolte (usted), no escoltemos (nosotros), no escolten (ustedes), no escoltéis (vosotros).