fascinar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
fascinar — to fascinate
The imperfect subjunctive ('fascinara', 'fascinaras') is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and suggestions.
fascinar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is great for talking about things that *might* have fascinated someone in the past, or under hypothetical past conditions. Think 'if something *were* to fascinate you...' or 'I wish something *would* fascinate you...'.
Notes on fascinar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Fascinar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but -ra (fascinara, fascinaras, etc.) is generally more common and often preferred.
Example Sentences
Si el libro me fascinara, lo leería otra vez.
If the book fascinated me, I would read it again.
yo
Ojalá esa película te fascinara tanto como a mí.
I wish that movie fascinated you as much as it did me.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que fascináramos a la audiencia con nuestras ideas.
They asked us to fascinate the audience with our ideas.
nosotros
Él pensaba que la propuesta los fascinaría.
He thought the proposal would fascinate them.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect subjunctive with preterite or imperfect indicative.
Correct: Use 'fascinara' for unreal or hypothetical past situations, not 'fascinó' or 'fascinaba'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is specifically for non-factual or subjective situations, unlike the indicative tenses.
Mistake: Using the -ra form when the -se form is expected (less common).
Correct: While both are correct, 'fascinara' is generally safer and more common than 'fascinase'.
Why: Regional and stylistic preferences can influence -ra vs -se usage, but -ra is more widespread.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: fascino
Use the present tense ('fascino', 'fascina') for current actions, habits, or general truths about fascination.
Preterite
yo: fasciné
Use the preterite ('fasciné', 'fascinó') for completed actions in the past, like something that fascinated you once.
Imperfect
yo: fascinaba
Use the imperfect ('fascinaba') for ongoing past actions or descriptions, like how something used to fascinate you.
Future
yo: fascinaré
The future tense ('fascinaré', 'fascinará') is for actions that will happen or to express probability.
Conditional
yo: fascinaría
Use the conditional ('fascinaría') for hypotheticals ('would fascinate') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: fascine
Use present subjunctive like 'fascine' (yo/él/ella/Ud.) after verbs of doubt, emotion, or desire.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: fascina
Use imperative forms like 'fascina' (tú) and 'fascine' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no fascines
Negative commands like 'no fascinen' (ustedes) use the present subjunctive with 'no'.