pillar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
pillar — to catch
The imperfect subjunctive of pillar (pillara/pillase) is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
pillar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'pillar' when talking about past hypothetical situations, expressing wishes, or in polite requests referring to the past. For example, 'Si pillara un taxi, llegaría a tiempo' means 'If I caught a taxi, I would arrive on time'.
Notes on pillar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Pillar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms are correct, though -ra is more common.
Example Sentences
Si pillara más tiempo, leería el libro.
If I had more time, I would read the book.
yo
Ojalá no pillaras frío.
I hope you didn't catch a cold.
tú
Me gustaría que usted pillara el mensaje.
I would like you to get the message.
él/ella/usted
Si ellos pillaran un taxi, no se mojarían.
If they caught a taxi, they wouldn't get wet.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For past hypotheticals or wishes, use 'pillara' or 'pillase', not 'pillé' or 'pilló'.
Why: The preterite describes completed past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with unreal or hypothetical situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'pillara' and 'pillase' (and their variations like 'pillaras'/'pillases') are correct for the imperfect subjunctive.
Why: Learners sometimes only learn one set of endings and avoid the other.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pillo
Pillo, pillas, pilla, pillamos, pilláis, pillan are the 'to catch' forms for now or habits.
Preterite
yo: pillé
Pillé, pillaste, pilló, pillamos, pillasteis, pillaron are the completed past actions for 'pillar'.
Imperfect
yo: pillaba
Pillaba, pillabas, pillaba, pillábamos, pillabais, pillaban describe past ongoing or habitual actions for 'pillar'.
Future
yo: pillaré
Pillaré, pillarás, pillará, pillaremos, pillaréis, pillarán are the future 'will catch' forms.
Conditional
yo: pillaría
Pillaría, pillarías, pillaría, pillaríamos, pillaríais, pillarían express 'would catch' hypotheticals.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pille
The present subjunctive of pillar (pille, pilles, pille, pillemos, pillen, pillen) is for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pilla
Pilla, pillad, pille, pillemos, pillen are the commands for 'pillar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pilles
Don't catch: no pilles, no pilléis, no pille, no pillemos, no pillen.