esperar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
esperar — to wait for
The imperfect subjunctive of esperar is formed from 'esperaron': esperara, esperaras, esperara, esperáramos, esperarais, esperaran.
esperar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in hypothetical 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If I waited...') or when you previously hoped or expected something in the past.
Notes on esperar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Esperar is regular here. Note the accent on the 'á' in the nosotros form: esperáramos.
Example Sentences
Si yo esperara más, perdería el tren.
If I waited longer, I would miss the train.
yo
Quería que tú esperaras mi señal.
I wanted you to wait for my signal.
tú
Fue una pena que no esperaran.
It was a shame they didn't wait.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: esperaramos (no accent)
Correct: esperáramos
Why: The 'nosotros' form of the imperfect subjunctive always requires an accent on the vowel before the 'ramos'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: espero
The present tense of esperar is regular: espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan.
Preterite
yo: esperé
The preterite of esperar is regular: esperé, esperaste, esperó, esperamos, esperasteis, esperaron.
Imperfect
yo: esperaba
The imperfect of esperar uses standard -aba endings: esperaba, esperabas, esperaba, esperábamos, esperabais, esperaban.
Future
yo: esperaré
The future of esperar uses the infinitive as the stem: esperaré, esperarás, esperará, esperaremos, esperaréis, esperarán.
Conditional
yo: esperaría
The conditional of esperar is regular: esperaría, esperarías, esperaría, esperaríamos, esperaríais, esperarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: espere
The present subjunctive of esperar uses -e endings: espere, esperes, espere, esperemos, esperéis, esperen.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: espera
The affirmative imperative of esperar uses: espera (tú), espere (usted), esperemos (nosotros), esperad (vosotros), esperen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no esperes
The negative imperative of esperar uses the present subjunctive: no esperes, no espere, no esperemos, no esperéis, no esperen.