estropear Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
estropear — to damage or break
Use imperfect subjunctive estropeara/estropéara for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'Si estropeara...' (If I were to break...)
estropear Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts in the past. For 'estropear,' you might say 'Si estropeara el juguete, me sentiría mal' (If I were to break the toy, I would feel bad). It often appears in 'if' clauses or after expressions of desire or doubt related to the past.
Notes on estropear in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Estropear is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., estropeara and estropease), but the -ra form is more common.
Example Sentences
Ojalá no estropeara la comida.
I wish I weren't ruining the food.
yo
Si estropearas el experimento, tendríamos que empezar de nuevo.
If you were to mess up the experiment, we would have to start over.
tú
El profesor actuaría como si el estudiante no hubiera estropeado el examen.
The professor would act as if the student hadn't messed up the exam.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que no estropeáramos el jardín.
They asked us not to damage the garden.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: In hypothetical clauses starting with 'si', use 'Si estropeara' not 'Si estropeaba'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for unreal or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: While both are technically correct, 'estropiera' is more common than 'estropiese'.
Why: Usage patterns favor the -ra form in most regions.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'estropear' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: estropeo
Present estropeo, estropeas, etc. describes current actions or habits: 'Yo estropeo las plantas si no las riego' (I ruin the plants if I don't water them).
Preterite
yo: estropeé
The preterite of estropear is regular: estropeé, estropeaste, estropeó, estropeamos, estropeasteis, estropearon.
Imperfect
yo: estropeaba
Imperfect estropeaba, estropeabas describes ongoing or habitual past actions: 'Antes estropeaba mis juguetes' (I used to break my toys).
Future
yo: estropearé
Future estropearé, estropearás predicts or assumes something will break: 'El vaso se estropeará' (The glass will break).
Conditional
yo: estropearía
Conditional estropearía, estropearías expresses hypotheticals ('would break'): 'Si tuviera dinero, no estropearía el coche' (If I had money, I wouldn't break the car).
Present Subjunctive
yo: estropee
Use present subjunctive estropee, estropeen etc. for wishes, doubts, and emotions: 'Espero que no estropees nada' (I hope you don't break anything).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: estropea
Use imperative estropea, estropee, etc. for direct commands, like '¡Estropea el vaso!' (Break the glass!).
Negative Imperative
yo: no estropees
Negative commands use 'no' plus present subjunctive: 'no estropees' (don't break).