motivar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
motivar — to motivate
The imperfect subjunctive of motivar (e.g., motivara, motivaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or suggestions.
motivar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is great for talking about hypothetical situations in the past or expressing wishes and doubts that were relevant in the past. For example, 'Ojalá motivara más a sus empleados' means 'I wish he motivated his employees more'.
Notes on motivar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Motivar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct, but the -ra form (motivara, motivaras, etc.) is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si yo motivara más, el equipo ganaría.
If I motivated more, the team would win.
yo
Me pidió que lo motivara con mis palabras.
He asked me to motivate him with my words.
él/ella/usted
Era importante que motivaras a tus compañeros.
It was important that you motivated your colleagues.
tú
Esperábamos que ellos se motivaran solos.
We hoped they would motivate themselves.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect subjunctive with preterite or imperfect indicative.
Correct: Use imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical or wished-for past situations, like 'Si motivara...'.
Why: The indicative tenses describe facts or ongoing past actions, not hypotheticals or wishes.
Mistake: Using the wrong stem or ending for the -ra form.
Correct: The stem is 'motiva-' and the endings are -ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran.
Why: Incorrect endings or stems lead to misunderstandings of the hypothetical context.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: motivo
The present indicative of motivar (motivo, motivas, motiva, motivamos, motiváis, motivan) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: motivé
The preterite of motivar is regular: motivé, motivaste, motivó, motivamos, motivasteis, motivaron.
Imperfect
yo: motivaba
The imperfect of motivar (motivaba, motivabas, motivaba, motivábamos, motivabais, motivaban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: motivaré
The future tense of motivar (motivaré, motivarás, motivará, motivaremos, motivaréis, motivarán) expresses actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: motivaría
The conditional of motivar (motivaría, motivarías, motivaría, motivaríamos, motivaríais, motivarían) is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: motive
The present subjunctive of motivar (motive, motives, motivemos, motiven, motivéis) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: motiva
Commands in the imperative for motivar: motiva (tú), motive (usted), motivemos (nosotros), motiven (ustedes), motivad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no motives
Negative commands for motivar use the present subjunctive: no motives (tú), no motive (usted), no motivemos (nosotros), no motiven (ustedes), no motivéis (vosotros).