intentar Negative Imperative Conjugation
intentar — to try
The negative imperative of intentar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no intentes, no intente, no intentemos, no intentéis, no intenten.
intentar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to try something, often when it's dangerous or a waste of time.
Notes on intentar in the Negative Imperative
Intentar is regular. All negative commands for -ar verbs use the -e endings from the subjunctive.
Example Sentences
No intentes arreglarlo tú solo.
Don't try to fix it by yourself.
tú
No intenten entrar por esa puerta.
Don't try to enter through that door.
ustedes
No intentemos convencerlo, no va a cambiar de opinión.
Let's not try to convince him, he's not going to change his mind.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no intenta' for a command.
Correct: no intentes
Why: Negative informal commands must use the subjunctive form, not the indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: intento
Intentar is a regular -ar verb in the present: intento, intentas, intenta, intentamos, intentáis, intentan.
Preterite
yo: intenté
The preterite of intentar is regular: intenté, intentaste, intentó, intentamos, intentasteis, intentaron.
Imperfect
yo: intentaba
The imperfect of intentar follows the regular -ar pattern: intentaba, intentabas, intentaba, intentábamos, intentabais, intentaban.
Future
yo: intentaré
The future of intentar uses the infinitive plus endings: intentaré, intentarás, intentará, intentaremos, intentaréis, intentarán.
Conditional
yo: intentaría
The conditional of intentar is formed by adding -ía endings to the infinitive: intentaría, intentarías, intentaría, intentaríamos, intentaríais, intentarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: intente
The present subjunctive of intentar swaps the -a for -e: intente, intentes, intente, intentemos, intentéis, intenten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: intentara
The imperfect subjunctive of intentar uses the preterite stem: intentara, intentaras, intentara, intentáramos, intentarais, intentaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: intenta
The imperative of intentar gives commands: intenta (tú), intente (usted), intentad (vosotros).