estropear Present Subjunctive Conjugation
estropear — to damage or break
Use present subjunctive estropee, estropeen etc. for wishes, doubts, and emotions: 'Espero que no estropees nada' (I hope you don't break anything).
estropear Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
You need the present subjunctive after expressions of hope, desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty. For 'estropear,' you might say 'Espero que no estropees la sorpresa' (I hope you don't spoil the surprise) or 'Dudo que él estropee el plan' (I doubt he will ruin the plan).
Notes on estropear in the Present Subjunctive
Estropear is regular in the present subjunctive. The stem remains 'estrope-' and the endings are standard for -ar verbs in the subjunctive.
Example Sentences
Espero que no estropees mi dibujo.
I hope you don't ruin my drawing.
tú
Quiero que usted no estropee la presentación.
I want you not to mess up the presentation.
Es posible que el gato estropee los muebles.
It's possible that the cat will damage the furniture.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá no estropeemos el ambiente.
Hopefully, we won't spoil the mood.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the present subjunctive.
Correct: After 'espero que' or 'dudo que', use the subjunctive: 'Espero que estropees' not 'Espero que estropeas'.
Why: Expressions of hope, doubt, and emotion trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'no' in negative commands.
Correct: Use 'no estropees' for a negative command, not just 'estropees'.
Why: The subjunctive is used for both positive and negative commands (with 'no' for negative).
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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).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estropeara
Use imperfect subjunctive estropeara/estropéara for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'Si estropeara...' (If I were to break...)
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).