portar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
portar — to behave
The imperfect subjunctive, like 'portara' or 'portase', is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
portar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
You'll use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or polite requests that didn't necessarily happen. For example, 'Si portaras mejor, te compraría un regalo' (If you behaved better, I would buy you a gift).
Notes on portar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Portar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist (e.g., portara/portase, portaras/portases). The -ra form is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Ojalá me portara mejor en el trabajo.
I wish I behaved better at work.
yo
Si él se portara bien, lo dejaríamos salir.
If he behaved well, we would let him go out.
él/ella/usted
Me gustaría que vosotras os portarais con amabilidad.
I would like you (plural, informal) to behave kindly.
vosotros
Ellos actuarían diferente si se portaran con honestidad.
They would act differently if they behaved with honesty.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of subjunctive, e.g., 'Si portaba bien...'.
Correct: For hypotheticals, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si portara bien...'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.
Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se' in the imperfect subjunctive, e.g., 'Si portara...'.
Correct: Use the reflexive: 'Si se portara...'.
Why: 'Portarse' is reflexive, so the pronoun must be included in all conjugations.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: porto
The present tense 'porto', 'portas', 'porta' describes habitual behavior or actions happening now.
Preterite
yo: porté
The preterite of 'portar' is regular: porté, portaste, portó, portamos, portasteis, portaron.
Imperfect
yo: portaba
The imperfect 'portaba', 'portabas', 'portaba' describes habitual or ongoing past behavior.
Future
yo: portaré
Future forms like 'portaré' (yo) and 'portarán' (ellos) predict or promise future behavior.
Conditional
yo: portaría
Conditional forms like 'portaría' (yo) express hypothetical behavior or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: porte
Present subjunctive forms like 'porte' (yo/él/ella/usted) express wishes, doubts, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: porta
Use imperative forms like 'porta' (tú) and 'porten' (ustedes) for direct commands with 'portar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no portes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, like 'no portes' (tú) or 'no porten' (ustedes).