heredar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
heredar — to inherit
The imperfect subjunctive of heredar (heredara/heredase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
heredar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is perfect for talking about hypothetical situations in the past, expressing wishes or doubts that were relevant back then, or in polite requests related to the past. For example, 'If I inherited money, I would travel.'
Notes on heredar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Heredar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra (heredara) and -se (heredase) forms are correct, with -ra being more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si heredara más dinero, viajaría por el mundo.
If I inherited more money, I would travel the world.
yo
Ojalá él heredase la paciencia de su abuela.
I wish he would inherit his grandmother's patience.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que heredáramos la tradición familiar.
They asked us to inherit the family tradition.
nosotros
Dudaba que ellos heredaran la empresa.
I doubted they would inherit the company.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: For hypothetical past conditions, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si heredara...' not 'Si heredó...'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for unreal or hypothetical conditions.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'heredara' and 'heredase' are correct, but 'heredara' is generally more common.
Why: Regional preferences exist, but both are grammatically valid.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: heredo
Heredar is regular in the present indicative: heredo, heredas, hereda, heredamos, heredáis, heredan.
Preterite
yo: heredé
Heredar is regular in the preterite: heredé, heredaste, heredó, heredamos, heredasteis, heredaron.
Imperfect
yo: heredaba
Heredar is regular in the imperfect indicative: heredaba, heredabas, heredaba, heredábamos, heredabais, heredaban.
Future
yo: heredaré
The future tense of heredar is regular: heredaré, heredarás, heredará, heredaremos, heredaréis, heredarán.
Conditional
yo: heredaría
The conditional of heredar is regular: heredaría, heredarías, heredaría, heredaríamos, heredaríais, heredarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: herede
The present subjunctive of heredar (herede, heredes, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: hereda
Use the imperative of heredar for direct commands: hereda (tú), herede (usted), heredemos (nosotros), hereden (ustedes), heredad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no heredes
Negative commands for heredar use the present subjunctive: no heredes (tú), no herede (usted), no heredemos (nosotros), no hereden (ustedes), no heredéis (vosotros).