estrangular Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
estrangular — to strangle
The imperfect subjunctive of 'estrangular' (estrangulara/estrangularas/etc.) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
estrangular Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is perfect for talking about hypothetical situations in the past or present, or making very polite requests. Imagine a situation where you wish something *had* happened or *would* happen.
Notes on estrangular in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This verb is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You take the preterite third-person plural form ('estrangularon'), drop the '-ron', and add the subjunctive endings (-ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran).
Example Sentences
Ojalá no estrangulara la planta con tanta agua.
I wish I weren't strangling the plant with so much water.
yo
Si él estrangulara el problema, podríamos resolverlo.
If he were to strangle the problem, we could solve it.
él/ella/usted
¿Estrangularas la competencia si tuvieras la oportunidad?
Would you strangle the competition if you had the chance?
tú
Nos pidieron que no estranguláramos el proyecto.
They asked us not to strangle the project.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypotheticals like 'If I were to...', use 'estrangulara', not 'estrangué'.
Why: The preterite describes completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive describes hypothetical or unreal situations.
Mistake: Mixing up the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'estrangulara' and 'estrangularse' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms. Stick to one for consistency, usually -ra.
Why: Spanish has two sets of imperfect subjunctive endings (-ra/-ras/-ra... and -se/-ses/-se...). They are interchangeable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: estrangulo
The present tense 'estrangulo', 'estrangulas', etc., describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: estrangulé
The preterite of 'estrangular' is regular: estrangulé, estrangulaste, estranguló, estrangulamos, estrangulasteis, estrangularon.
Imperfect
yo: estrangulaba
The imperfect 'estrangulaba', 'estrangulabas', etc., describes ongoing or habitual past actions, or sets a scene.
Future
yo: estrangularé
The future tense 'estrangularé', 'estrangularás', etc., is used for actions that will happen or to express probability.
Conditional
yo: estrangularía
The conditional 'estrangularía', 'estrangularías', etc., is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: estrangule
The present subjunctive 'estrangule', 'estrangles', etc., is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: estrangula
Commands for 'estrangular' are mostly regular, with tú 'estrangula' and vosotros 'estrangulad' being the most common.
Negative Imperative
yo: no estrangules
Negative commands for 'estrangular' use the present subjunctive with 'no': no estrangules, no estrangule, etc.