obrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
obrar — to act
The imperfect subjunctive of obrar (obrara/obrara) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
obrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is great for talking about hypothetical situations in the past or present that depend on a condition, or for making polite requests. For example, 'Si obrara con más cuidado, no habría tenido problemas' means 'If I had acted more carefully, I wouldn't have had problems.'
Notes on obrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Obrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., obrara/obrase), but the -ra form is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si yo obrara mejor, me querrían más.
If I acted better, they would love me more.
yo
Ojalá él obrara con más sinceridad.
I wish he would act with more sincerity.
él/ella/usted
Nos pidieron que obráramos con discreción.
They asked us to act with discretion.
nosotros
Si ustedes obraran con calma, todo saldría bien.
If you all acted calmly, everything would turn out well.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or wish clauses, use 'obrara' or 'obrarais', not 'obraba' or 'obrabais'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express doubt, desire, or hypothetical conditions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'obráramos'.
Correct: The correct form for 'nosotros' is 'obráramos'.
Why: The accent on the 'a' is crucial for pronunciation and distinguishes the nosotros form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: obro
The present tense of obrar is regular: obro, obras, obra, obramos, obráis, obran, used for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: obré
The preterite of obrar is regular: obré, obraste, obró, obramos, obrasteis, obraron, used for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: obraba
The imperfect of obrar is regular: obraba, obrabas, obraba, obrábamos, obrabais, obraban, for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: obraré
The future tense of obrar is regular: obraré, obrarás, obrará, obraremos, obraréis, obrarán, for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: obraría
The conditional of obrar is regular: obraría, obrarías, obraría, obraríamos, obraríais, obrarían, for hypotheticals and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: obre
The present subjunctive of obrar (obre, obres, obremos, obréis, obren) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: obra
Use the imperative of obrar for direct commands: obra (tú), obre (usted), obremos (nosotros), obrad (vosotros), obren (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no obres
Negative commands for obrar use the present subjunctive: no obres (tú), no obre (usted), no obremos (nosotros), no obréis (vosotros), no obren (ustedes).