persuadir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
persuadir — to persuade
The imperfect subjunctive of persuadir (persuadiera/persuadiera) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
persuadir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical situations in the past, polite requests, or to express wishes and doubts in past contexts. It's often seen in 'if' clauses referring to unreal conditions.
Notes on persuadir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Persuadir is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both '-ra' and '-se' endings are possible, but '-ra' is more common: 'persuadiera' or 'persuadiese'.
Example Sentences
Si tuviera más tiempo, te persuadiera para que vinieras.
If I had more time, I would persuade you to come.
yo
Me gustaría que me persuadieras a probar la comida.
I would like you to persuade me to try the food.
tú
Ellos pensaron que nos persuadieran fácilmente.
They thought they would persuade us easily.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Era importante que usted nos persuadiera con sus argumentos.
It was important that you persuaded us with your arguments.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect subjunctive with imperfect indicative: 'Si yo persuadía...'.
Correct: In hypothetical 'if' clauses referring to the past or present unreal, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si yo persuadiera...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is specifically for unreal or hypothetical conditions, while the imperfect indicative describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si yo persuadí...'.
Correct: For hypothetical 'if' clauses, the imperfect subjunctive is required: 'Si yo persuadiera...'.
Why: The preterite describes completed actions, not hypothetical ones.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: persuado
The present tense of persuadir (persuado, persuades, persuade, persuadimos, persuadís, persuaden) describes current or habitual attempts to convince.
Preterite
yo: persuadí
The preterite of persuadir is regular: persuadí, persuadiste, persuadió, persuadimos, persuadisteis, persuadieron.
Imperfect
yo: persuadía
The imperfect of persuadir (persuadía, persuadías, persuadía, persuadíamos, persuadíais, persuadían) describes past attempts to convince or background context.
Future
yo: persuadiré
The future tense of persuadir (persuadiré, persuadirás, persuadirá, persuadiremos, persuadiréis, persuadirán) indicates future attempts to convince.
Conditional
yo: persuadiría
The conditional of persuadir (persuadiría, persuadirías, persuadiría, persuadiríamos, persuadiríais, persuadirían) expresses 'would' persuade.
Present Subjunctive
yo: persuada
The present subjunctive of persuadir (persuada, persuadas, persuada, persuadamos, persuadáis, persuadan) is used after wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: persuade
The imperative of persuadir is mostly regular, with commands like 'persuade' (tú) and 'persuadan' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no persuadas
Negative commands for persuadir use the present subjunctive: 'no persuadas' (tú), 'no persuadan' (ustedes).