humillar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
humillar — to humiliate
The imperfect subjunctive of 'humillar' (humillara/humillase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or uncertainty.
humillar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is for hypothetical situations or actions in the past that were uncertain, desired, or contrary to fact. Think 'if I were to humiliate...' or 'I wish he would humble himself...'.
Notes on humillar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Humillar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (humillara) or the -se form (humillase), with the -ra form being more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo humillara mi orgullo, podría aprender.
If I were to humble my pride, I could learn.
yo
Ojalá no me humillaras delante de todos.
I wish you wouldn't humiliate me in front of everyone.
tú
Él actuaba como si nadie lo humillara.
He acted as if no one humiliated him.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que nos humilláramos para entrar.
They asked us to humble ourselves to get in.
nosotros
Sería mejor si ustedes se humillaran un poco.
It would be better if you all humbled yourselves a bit.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or wishful statements about the past, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si yo me humillara...' not 'Si yo me humillaba...'.
Why: The indicative describes facts or perceived realities, while the subjunctive is for non-real or subjective situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'humillara' and 'humillase' are correct, but 'humillara' is generally more common.
Why: While interchangeable in most contexts, learners sometimes get stuck on which to use or think only one is correct.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: humillo
The present indicative of 'humillar' (humillo, humillas, etc.) describes current actions or general truths about humiliating others or oneself.
Preterite
yo: humillé
The preterite of 'humillar' is regular: humillé, humillaste, humilló, humillamos, humillasteis, humillaron.
Imperfect
yo: humillaba
The imperfect of 'humillar' (humillaba, humillabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of humiliating or humbling.
Future
yo: humillaré
The future tense of 'humillar' (humillaré, humillarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or express probability.
Conditional
yo: humillaría
The conditional of 'humillar' (humillaría, humillarías, etc.) expresses hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: humille
The present subjunctive of 'humillar' (humille, humilles, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or impersonal statements.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: humilla
Imperative commands for 'humillar' are: humilla (tú), humille (usted), humillemos (nosotros), humillad (vosotros), humillen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no humilles
Negative commands for 'humillar' use 'no' + present subjunctive: no humilles (tú), no humille (usted), no humillemos (nosotros), no humilléis (vosotros), no humillen (ustedes).