marchar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
marchar — march
The imperfect subjunctive of march (marchara/marchase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
marchar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This is for 'what if' scenarios in the past, polite requests from the past, or describing hypothetical situations that might have happened. Think 'if I *were* marching' or 'I wish he *would march'.'
Notes on marchar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
March is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra form (marchara) or the -se form (marchase), though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si marchara más rápido, habría ganado.
If I had marched faster, I would have won.
yo
Quería que marcharas con nosotros.
I wanted you to march with us.
tú
Sería bueno si marchara ahora.
It would be good if he marched now.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá marcharan todos juntos.
Hopefully, they would all march together.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive for hypotheticals.
Correct: Use 'Si marchara...' not 'Si marché...'.
Why: The preterite is for completed past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive is for unreal or hypothetical past situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'marchara' and 'marchase' are correct, but 'marchara' is generally more common.
Why: Regional preferences exist, but both are grammatically valid imperfect subjunctive forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: marcho
The present tense of march (marcho, marchas, marcha) describes current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: marché
The preterite of march (marche, marchaste, marchó) indicates completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: marchaba
The imperfect tense of march (marchaba, marchabas, marchaba) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: marcharé
The future tense of march (marcharé, marcharás, marchará) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: marcharía
The conditional of march (marcharía, marcharías, marcharía) expresses 'would' actions or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: marche
The present subjunctive of march (marche, marches, marchen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ¡marcha!
Use imperative forms like '¡marcha!' (tú) and '¡marchen!' (ustedes) for direct commands with march.
Negative Imperative
yo: ¡no marches!
Negative commands with march use the present subjunctive, like '¡no marches!' (tú) or '¡no marchen!' (ustedes).