instruir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
instruir — to instruct
The imperfect subjunctive of instruir uses the 'y' from the preterite: instruyera, instruyeras, instruyera, instruyéramos, instruyerais, instruyeran.
instruir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for past-tense doubts or hypothetical 'if' situations involving teaching or guidance.
Notes on instruir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is built from the third-person plural preterite (instruyeron). You drop the -ron and add the subjunctive endings.
Example Sentences
Si yo instruyera a ese grupo, aprenderían rápido.
If I were to instruct that group, they would learn quickly.
yo
Me gustaría que nos instruyeras en fotografía.
I would like you to instruct us in photography.
tú
Fue una pena que no nos instruyeran mejor.
It was a shame they didn't instruct us better.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'instruiera' (with an 'i').
Correct: instruyera
Why: The 'y' from the preterite 'instruyeron' must be maintained throughout this tense.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'instruir' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: instruyo
The present of instruir adds a 'y' before endings: instruyo, instruyes, instruye, instruimos, instruís, instruyen.
Preterite
yo: instruí
Instruir in the preterite features a 'y' in the third-person forms: instruí, instruiste, instruyó, instruimos, instruisteis, instruyeron.
Imperfect
yo: instruía
The imperfect of instruir is regular: instruía, instruías, instruía, instruíamos, instruíais, instruían.
Future
yo: instruiré
The future of instruir is regular: instruiré, instruirás, instruirá, instruiremos, instruiréis, instruirán.
Conditional
yo: instruiría
The conditional of instruir is regular: instruiría, instruirías, instruiría, instruiríamos, instruiríais, instruirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: instruya
The present subjunctive of instruir uses a 'y' in all forms: instruya, instruyas, instruya, instruyamos, instruyáis, instruyan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: instruye
Use the imperative to give orders: instruye (tú), instruya (usted), instruid (vosotros), instruyan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no instruyas
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no instruyas, no instruya, no instruyamos, no instruyáis, no instruyan.