infectar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
infectar — to infect
The imperfect subjunctive of infectar (e.g., infectara, infectaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
infectar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or in 'if' clauses referring to hypothetical past situations. It describes something that might have happened or was wished for in the past.
Notes on infectar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Infectar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (infectara, infectaras, etc.) is more common in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
Ojalá no se infectara la herida después de la operación.
I wish the wound hadn't gotten infected after the surgery.
él/ella/usted
Si el agua estuviera contaminada, se infectarían rápido.
If the water were contaminated, they would get infected quickly.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me preocupaba que tú te infectaras con esa bacteria.
I was worried that you would get infected by that bacteria.
tú
Era importante que infectáramos la zona con cuidado.
It was important that we disinfected the area carefully.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or wish-based past situations, use the imperfect subjunctive (e.g., 'si infectara,' not 'si infectaba').
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for expressing non-factual or hypothetical scenarios.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: While both are correct, the -ra form (infectara) is generally more common.
Why: Learners might stick to one form or mistakenly use the wrong one.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: infecto
The present indicative of infectar is regular: infecto, infectas, infecta, infectamos, infectáis, infectan.
Preterite
yo: infecté
The preterite of infectar is regular: infecté, infectaste, infectó, infectamos, infectasteis, infectaron.
Imperfect
yo: infectaba
The imperfect of infectar is regular: infectaba, infectabas, infectaba, infectábamos, infectabais, infectaban.
Future
yo: infectaré
The future tense of infectar is regular: infectaré, infectarás, infectará, infectaremos, infectaréis, infectarán.
Conditional
yo: infectaría
The conditional of infectar is regular: infectaría, infectarías, infectaría, infectaríamos, infectaríais, infectarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: infecte
The present subjunctive of infectar (infecte, infectes, infectemos, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and impersonal statements.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: infecta
The imperative of infectar is mostly regular, with commands like infecta (tú), infecte (usted), infectemos (nosotros), infecten (ustedes), and infectad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no infectes
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no infectes (tú), no infecte (usted), no infectemos (nosotros), no infecten (ustedes), no infectéis (vosotros).