idear Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
idear — to devise
The imperfect subjunctive ('ideara', 'idease') is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
idear Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'idear' when talking about hypothetical situations in the past, expressing wishes or doubts that were relevant in the past, or making polite requests. It often appears in 'if' clauses (like 'si ideara...').
Notes on idear in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Idear is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (ideara, idearas, etc.) or the -se form (idease, ideases, etc.), though the -ra form is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si yo ideara un plan perfecto, lo compartiría.
If I devised a perfect plan, I would share it.
yo
Ella deseaba que tú idearas una solución rápida.
She wished that you would devise a quick solution.
tú
Nosotros habríamos tenido éxito si él ideara la estrategia correcta.
We would have succeeded if he had devised the right strategy.
él/ella/usted
Me preguntaba si vosotros idearais algo diferente.
I wondered if you all devised something different.
vosotros
Ellos hablaban como si ellos idearan el futuro.
They spoke as if they devised the future.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive after 'si' for a hypothetical.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si ideara...' not 'Si ideó...' or 'Si ideaba...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is specifically used for unreal or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the -ra or -se forms, especially with 'yo' or 'él/ella/usted'.
Correct: Ensure accents are correct, e.g., 'ideara', 'idease'.
Why: The accent marks the stress and helps distinguish these forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: ideo
The present tense of idear ('ideo', 'ideas', 'idea') describes current actions, habits, or general truths about devising ideas.
Preterite
yo: ideé
The preterite of idear is regular: ideé, ideaste, ideó, ideamos, ideasteis, idearon, for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: ideaba
The imperfect of idear ('ideaba', 'ideabas') describes ongoing or habitual past actions of devising ideas.
Future
yo: idearé
The future tense of idear ('idearé', 'idearás') expresses actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: idearía
The conditional of idear ('idearía', 'idearías') is used for hypotheticals ('would devise'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: idee
The present subjunctive ('idee', 'idees', 'ideemos') expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, or uncertainty about current or future events.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: idea
Use imperative forms like 'idea' (tú) and 'ideen' (ustedes) for direct commands with idear.
Negative Imperative
yo: no idees
Use negative commands like 'no idees' (tú) and 'no ideen' (ustedes) with 'no' and the present subjunctive.