
merecer Present Subjunctive Conjugation
merecer — to deserve
The present subjunctive uses the 'merezc-' stem for all persons.
merecer Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when expressing wishes, doubts, or emotions about what someone deserves (e.g., 'I hope you deserve...').
Notes on merecer in the Present Subjunctive
The 'zco' from the 'yo' form in the present indicative carries over to the entire subjunctive mood as 'merezca'.
Example Sentences
Espero que merezcas toda esta felicidad.
I hope you deserve all this happiness.
tú
No creo que él merezca ese castigo.
I don't think he deserves that punishment.
él/ella/usted
Busco a alguien que merezca mi confianza.
I'm looking for someone who deserves my trust.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'mereca' instead of 'merezca'.
Correct: merezca.
Why: The stem must match the irregular 'yo' form (merezco).
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: mereciera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the stem 'merecie-': mereciera, merecieras, mereciera, mereciéramos, merecierais, merecieran.
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'.