existir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
existir — to exist
The imperfect subjunctive of existir is based on the preterite stem: existiera, existieras, existiera, existiéramos.
existir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations or after past-tense triggers involving doubt or wishes (e.g., 'If a better way existed...').
Notes on existir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Existir is regular. It follows the standard pattern of taking the 'ellos' preterite form (existieron), dropping -on, and adding -a endings.
Example Sentences
Si existiera otra opción, la tomaría.
If another option existed, I would take it.
él/ella/usted
No era probable que ellos existieran en esa época.
It wasn't likely that they existed in that era.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Ojalá existieran más personas como tú.
I wish there were (existed) more people like you.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'nosotros' form: existieramos.
Correct: The nosotros form must have an accent: existiéramos.
Why: All 'nosotros' forms in the imperfect subjunctive require an accent on the vowel before the -ramos ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: existo
Existir is a regular -ir verb in the present tense: existo, existes, existe, existimos, existís, existen.
Preterite
yo: existí
The preterite of existir is regular: existí, exististe, existió, existimos, exististeis, existieron.
Imperfect
yo: existía
Existir is regular in the imperfect: existía, existías, existía, existíamos, existíais, existían.
Future
yo: existiré
The future of existir uses the infinitive as the stem: existir + é, ás, á, emos, éis, án.
Conditional
yo: existiría
The conditional of existir is regular: existiría, existirías, existiría, existiríamos, existiríais, existirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: exista
The present subjunctive of existir uses the 'a' endings: exista, existas, exista, existamos, existáis, existan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: existe
The imperative of existir is used for commands: existe, exista, existamos, existid, existan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no existas
The negative imperative of existir matches the present subjunctive: no existas, no exista, no existamos, no existáis, no existan.