impedir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
impedir — to prevent
Based on the 'ellos' preterite, the stem is 'impidier-'.
impedir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use in 'if' clauses (hypotheticals) or after past-tense triggers involving doubt or influence.
Notes on impedir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Because it is based on the preterite 'impidieron', the 'i' stem carries through all forms (impidiera, impidieras, etc.).
Example Sentences
Si la nieve impidiera el paso, nos quedaríamos aquí.
If the snow prevented passage, we would stay here.
él/ella/usted
Dudaba que ellos impidieran la boda.
I doubted that they would prevent the wedding.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Impediera.
Correct: Impidiera.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive always follows the third-person plural preterite stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: impido
Impedir is an e>i stem-changing verb in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: impedí
Impedir is irregular in the preterite, changing the 'e' to 'i' in the third-person forms: impidió and impidieron.
Imperfect
yo: impedía
Impedir is regular in the imperfect: impedía, impedías, impedía, impedíamos, impedíais, impedían.
Future
yo: impediré
Impedir is regular in the future: just add the endings to the full infinitive.
Conditional
yo: impediría
The conditional of impedir is regular: impediría, impedirías, impediría, impediríamos, impediríais, impedirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: impida
Impedir changes 'e' to 'i' in all forms of the present subjunctive, including nosotros and vosotros.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: impide
Use 'impide' for tú and 'impida' for usted; remember the stem change.
Negative Imperative
yo: no impidas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no impidas, no impida, no impidamos.