fallar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
fallar — to fail
The imperfect subjunctive (fallara, fallaras, fallara, falláramos, fallarais, fallaran) is for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
fallar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, polite requests, or when expressing doubt or desire about something that might have happened or been done in the past. It often appears in 'if' clauses describing unreal conditions.
Notes on fallar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Fallar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are possible, but -ra is more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo fallara en mi intento, lo intentaría de nuevo.
If I were to fail in my attempt, I would try again.
yo
Me pidió que no fallara en la tarea.
He asked me not to fail the task.
yo
Sería terrible si ellos fallaran en su compromiso.
It would be terrible if they failed in their commitment.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Qué harías si tú fallaras en el último minuto?
What would you do if you failed in the last minute?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: Use 'Si fallara...' not 'Si fallé...'.
Why: Hypothetical or unreal conditions in the past require the imperfect subjunctive.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'fallara' and 'fallase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms.
Why: Spanish has two sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive, but the -ra form is generally more common and often preferred.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'fallar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: fallo
The present tense of fallar (fallo, fallas, falla, fallamos, falláis, fallan) describes current or habitual failures.
Preterite
yo: fallé
The preterite of fallar is regular: fallé, fallaste, falló, fallamos, fallasteis, fallaron, for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: fallaba
The imperfect of fallar (fallaba, fallabas, fallaba, fallábamos, fallabais, fallaban) describes ongoing or habitual past failures.
Future
yo: fallaré
The future tense of fallar (fallaré, fallarás, fallará, fallaremos, fallaréis, fallarán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: fallaría
The conditional of fallar (fallaría, fallarías, fallaría, fallaríamos, fallaríais, fallarían) expresses 'would' fail or polite possibilities.
Present Subjunctive
yo: falle
Use the present subjunctive of fallar (falle, falles, falle, fallemos, falléis, fallen) for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: falla
Use the imperative of fallar for direct commands: falla (tú), falle (usted), fallad (vosotros), fallen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no falles
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: no falles (tú), no falle (usted), no falléis (vosotros), no fallen (ustedes).