oscurecer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
oscurecer — to get dark
Oscurecer is regular in the imperfect subjunctive, using the 'ra' or 'se' forms: oscureciera, oscurecieras, etc.
oscurecer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (hypotheticals) or when the main verb is in the past and expresses a wish or doubt about it getting dark.
Notes on oscurecer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is formed from the third-person plural of the preterite (oscurecieron), so it is regular.
Example Sentences
Si oscureciera más tarde, podríamos jugar más.
If it got dark later, we could play more.
él/ella/usted
No quería que oscureciera tan pronto.
I didn't want it to get dark so soon.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: oscurezquira
Correct: oscureciera
Why: Learners sometimes try to keep the 'z' from the present subjunctive, but the imperfect subjunctive never uses it.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: oscurezco
Oscurecer follows the -cer/-cir pattern: the 'yo' form is oscurezco, while other forms are regular.
Preterite
yo: oscurecí
Oscurecer is completely regular in the preterite: oscurecí, oscureciste, oscureció, oscurecimos, oscurecisteis, oscurecieron.
Imperfect
yo: oscurecía
Oscurecer is regular in the imperfect: oscurecía, oscurecías, oscurecía, oscurecíamos, oscurecíais, oscurecían.
Future
yo: oscureceré
Oscurecer is regular in the future: oscureceré, oscurecerás, oscurecerá, oscureceremos, oscureceréis, oscurecerán.
Conditional
yo: oscurecería
Oscurecer is regular in the conditional: oscurecería, oscurecerías, oscurecería, oscureceríamos, oscureceríais, oscurecerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: oscurezca
The present subjunctive uses the 'zc' stem for all forms: oscurezca, oscurezcas, oscurezca, oscurezcamos, oscurezcáis, oscurezcan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: oscurece
The imperative uses 'oscurece' (tú) and 'oscurezca' (usted/ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no oscurezcas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms with 'no'.