merecer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
merecer — to deserve
The imperfect subjunctive uses the stem 'merecie-': mereciera, merecieras, mereciera, mereciéramos, merecierais, merecieran.
merecer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypotheticals (often with 'if' clauses) or when the main verb is in the past.
Notes on merecer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is formed from the third-person plural preterite (merecieron), making it regular for an -er verb.
Example Sentences
Si yo mereciera el premio, me lo habrían dado.
If I deserved the prize, they would have given it to me.
yo
Dudaba que nosotros mereciéramos tanto dinero.
I doubted that we deserved so much money.
nosotros
Ojalá ellos merecieran una mejor vida.
I wish they deserved a better life.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Adding a 'z' (e.g., 'merezciera').
Correct: mereciera.
Why: The 'z' change only happens in the present subjunctive and the 'yo' form of the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: merezco
Merecer is irregular in the first person (yo merezco), while the other forms follow regular -er patterns.
Preterite
yo: merecí
Merecer is regular in the preterite: merecí, mereciste, mereció, merecimos, merecisteis, merecieron.
Imperfect
yo: merecía
Merecer is regular in the imperfect: merecía, merecías, merecía, merecíamos, merecíais, merecían.
Future
yo: mereceré
The future of merecer is regular: mereceré, merecerás, merecerá, mereceremos, mereceréis, merecerán.
Conditional
yo: merecería
The conditional of merecer is regular: merecería, merecerías, merecería, mereceríamos, mereceríais, merecerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: merezca
The present subjunctive uses the 'merezc-' stem for all persons.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: merece
The imperative uses 'merece' for tú and 'merezca' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no merezcas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms with 'no'.