gastar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
gastar — to spend
The present subjunctive of gastar: 'gaste', 'gastes', 'gastemos', 'gastéis', 'gasten'.
gastar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty. For example, 'Espero que gastes poco' (I hope you spend little) or 'Dudo que gasten mucho' (I doubt they spend a lot). It's also used for negative commands.
Notes on gastar in the Present Subjunctive
Gastar is regular in the present subjunctive. The stem is the same as the present indicative, and the endings are the standard -ar subjunctive endings.
Example Sentences
Quiero que gastes tu dinero en algo que te guste.
I want you to spend your money on something you like.
tú
Es importante que gastemos con inteligencia.
It's important that we spend intelligently.
nosotros
No creo que ellos gasten tanto en vacaciones.
I don't think they spend so much on vacation.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Te pido que no gastéis todo el presupuesto.
I ask you not to spend the whole budget.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the subjunctive, like 'Espero que gastas'.
Correct: After verbs of hope or doubt, use the present subjunctive: 'Espero que gastes'.
Why: This is a fundamental difference between indicative and subjunctive moods.
Mistake: Confusing the yo/él/ella/usted form 'gaste' with the tú form 'gastes'.
Correct: 'Gaste' is for yo/él/ella/usted, and 'gastes' is for tú.
Why: These are common endings to mix up within the present subjunctive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: gasto
Gastar is regular in the present tense: gasto, gastas, gasta, gastamos, gastáis, gastan.
Preterite
yo: gasté
The preterite of gastar is regular: gasté, gastaste, gastó, gastamos, gastasteis, gastaron.
Imperfect
yo: gastaba
The imperfect of gastar is regular: gastaba, gastabas, gastaba, gastábamos, gastabais, gastaban.
Future
yo: gastaré
The future tense of gastar is regular: gastaré, gastarás, gastará, gastaremos, gastaréis, gastarán.
Conditional
yo: gastaría
The conditional of gastar is regular: gastaría, gastarías, gastaría, gastaríamos, gastaríais, gastarían.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: gastara
The imperfect subjunctive of gastar has two forms: gastara/gastase and gastáramos/gastásemos.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: gasta
The imperative of gastar is mostly regular, with specific commands like 'gasta' (tú) and 'gastad' (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no gastes
Negative commands for gastar use the present subjunctive: 'no gastes', 'no gaste', 'no gastemos', 'no gastéis', 'no gasten'.