honrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
honrar — to honor
The imperfect subjunctive (honrara/honrase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests in the past.
honrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical situations in the past, expressing wishes or doubts that were relevant in a past context. For 'honrar', it could be used in 'if' clauses like 'If I were to honor him...' or 'I wish I had honored...'.
Notes on honrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Honrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (honrara, honraras, etc.) or the -se form (honrase, honrases, etc.). The -ra form is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si yo honrara su memoria, pondría flores en su tumba.
If I were to honor his memory, I would put flowers on his grave.
yo
Me pidió que honrara a sus padres.
He asked me to honor his parents.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá hubieras honrado su consejo.
I wish you had honored his advice.
tú
Esperábamos que ellos honraran la promesa.
We hoped they would honor the promise.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical 'if' clauses, like 'Si honré su memoria...'.
Correct: For hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations in the past, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si honrara su memoria...'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for uncertainty, hypotheticals, and non-factual statements.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, or using the wrong endings.
Correct: Remember the parallel endings: honrara, honraras, honrara, honráramos, honrarais, honraran OR honrase, honrases, honrase, honrásemos, honraseis, honrasen.
Why: Both sets of endings are correct, but learners often mix them up or apply incorrect personal endings.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: honro
The present tense (honro, honras, honra, etc.) describes current actions, habits, and general truths about honoring.
Preterite
yo: honré
The preterite of 'honrar' is regular: honré, honraste, honró, honramos, honrasteis, honraron.
Imperfect
yo: honraba
The imperfect of 'honrar' (honraba, honrabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of honoring.
Future
yo: honraré
The future tense (honraré, honrarás, etc.) expresses what will happen or probability.
Conditional
yo: honraría
The conditional (honraría, honrarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, politeness, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: honre
The present subjunctive (honre, honres, etc.) follows expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: honra
Use 'honra' (tú), 'honre' (usted), 'honremos' (nosotros), 'honrad' (vosotros), 'honren' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no honres
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no honres' (tú), 'no honre' (usted), 'no honremos' (nosotros), 'no honréis' (vosotros), 'no honren' (ustedes).