mostrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
mostrar — to show
The imperfect subjunctive is regular: mostrara, mostraras, mostrara, mostráramos, mostrarais, mostraran.
mostrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in hypothetical 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If he showed more interest...') or after past-tense verbs of influence.
Notes on mostrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Even though the present is irregular, the imperfect subjunctive is based on the regular preterite stem.
Example Sentences
Si me mostrara la verdad, yo le creería.
If he showed me the truth, I would believe him.
él/ella/usted
Mis padres querían que yo mostrara más interés.
My parents wanted me to show more interest.
yo
Si nos mostraran el camino, llegaríamos rápido.
If they showed us the way, we would arrive quickly.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the stem change: 'muestrara'.
Correct: mostrara
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is built from the preterite 3rd-person plural (mostraron), which does not have a stem change.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: muestro
Mostrar is an o > ue stem-changing verb in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: mostré
The preterite of mostrar is regular: mostré, mostraste, mostró, mostramos, mostrasteis, mostraron.
Imperfect
yo: mostraba
Mostrar is regular in the imperfect: mostraba, mostrabas, mostraba, mostrábamos, mostrabais, mostraban.
Future
yo: mostraré
The future of mostrar is regular: mostraré, mostrarás, mostrará, mostraremos, mostraréis, mostrarán.
Conditional
yo: mostraría
The conditional of mostrar is regular: mostraría, mostrarías, mostraría, mostraríamos, mostraríais, mostrarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: muestre
The present subjunctive follows the o > ue stem change: muestre, muestres, muestre, mostremos, mostréis, muestren.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: muestra
Affirmative commands use the stem change: muestra (tú), muestre (usted), mostremos (nosotros), mostrad (vosotros), muestren (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no muestres
Negative commands are based on the present subjunctive: no muestres, no muestre, no mostremos, no mostréis, no muestren.