lavar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
lavar — to wash
The imperfect subjunctive of lavar is regular: lavara, lavaras, lavara, laváramos, lavarais, lavaran.
lavar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical past situations or in 'if' clauses, like 'If I washed the car...'
Notes on lavar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Lavar is regular. It is formed from the third-person plural preterite (lavaron), removing the -on and adding -a, -as, -a, etc.
Example Sentences
Si yo lavara el coche, quedaría como nuevo.
If I washed the car, it would look like new.
yo
Me gustaría que tú lavaras tu ropa más a menudo.
I would like you to wash your clothes more often.
tú
Si laváramos las cortinas, la casa olería mejor.
If we washed the curtains, the house would smell better.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'lavara' instead of 'lavará' (future).
Correct: lavara (subjunctive) / lavará (future)
Why: The accent on the final 'a' completely changes the tense from hypothetical (subjunctive) to certain (future).
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: lavo
The present of lavar is regular: lavo, lavas, lava, lavamos, laváis, lavan.
Preterite
yo: lavé
The preterite of lavar is regular: lavé, lavaste, lavó, lavamos, lavasteis, lavaron.
Imperfect
yo: lavaba
The imperfect of lavar is regular: lavaba, lavabas, lavaba, lavábamos, lavabais, lavaban.
Future
yo: lavaré
The future of lavar is regular: lavaré, lavarás, lavará, lavaremos, lavaréis, lavarán.
Conditional
yo: lavaría
The conditional of lavar is regular: lavaría, lavarías, lavaría, lavaríamos, lavaríais, lavarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: lave
The present subjunctive of lavar is regular: lave, laves, lave, lavemos, lavéis, laven.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: lava
The affirmative imperative of lavar is: lava (tú), lave (usted), lavemos (nosotros), lavad (vosotros), laven (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no laves
The negative imperative of lavar uses the present subjunctive: no laves, no lave, no lavemos, no lavéis, no laven.