establecer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
establecer — to establish
Formed using the preterite stem: estableciera, establecieras, estableciera, etc.
establecer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations or past requests regarding establishing something.
Notes on establecer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is regular based on the third-person plural preterite (establecieron). Drop the -ron and add the subjunctive endings.
Example Sentences
Si estableciéramos un horario, terminaríamos antes.
If we established a schedule, we would finish sooner.
nosotros
Me pidió que estableciera contacto con el cliente.
He asked me to establish contact with the client.
yo
Sería mejor que establecieran un presupuesto.
It would be better if they established a budget.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: establezciera
Correct: estableciera
Why: Do not use the 'zc' from the present tense here. The imperfect subjunctive always builds off the preterite stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: establezco
Establecer is irregular in the 'yo' form (establezco), but regular for all other persons.
Preterite
yo: establecí
The preterite of establecer is completely regular: establecí, estableciste, estableció, etc.
Imperfect
yo: establecía
The imperfect of establecer is regular: establecía, establecías, establecía, establecíamos, establecíais, establecían.
Future
yo: estableceré
The future tense is regular: add the endings -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the infinitive establecer.
Conditional
yo: establecería
The conditional is regular: add -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive establecer.
Present Subjunctive
yo: establezca
The present subjunctive uses the irregular 'establezc-' stem for all persons.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: establece
The imperative uses 'establece' for tú and 'establezca' for formal/plural commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no establezcas
Negative commands always use the present subjunctive forms: no establezcas, no establezca, etc.