prescindir Conditional Conjugation
prescindir — to do without
The conditional ('prescindiría', 'prescindirías') expresses hypotheticals like 'would do without'.
prescindir Conditional Forms
When to Use the Conditional
Use the conditional of 'prescindir' for hypothetical situations ('I would do without...'), polite requests, or to express what someone would do in a certain past context (future-in-the-past).
Notes on prescindir in the Conditional
'Prescindir' is regular in the conditional tense. The stem is the full infinitive 'prescindir', and it takes the standard conditional endings.
Example Sentences
Yo prescindiría de la televisión si tuviera más tiempo para leer.
I would do without television if I had more time to read.
yo
¿Tú prescindirías de ese postre si supieras que es malo para ti?
Would you do without that dessert if you knew it was bad for you?
tú
Él prescindiría de la carne si fuera vegetariano.
He would do without meat if he were vegetarian.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros prescindiríamos de las comodidades para ahorrar dinero.
We would do without the comforts to save money.
nosotros
Ellos prescindirían de la ayuda si pudieran hacerlo solos.
They would do without help if they could do it alone.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the conditional for definite future actions.
Correct: Use the future tense ('prescindirá') for definite future actions, not the conditional ('prescindiría').
Why: The conditional implies uncertainty or a hypothetical situation, not a guaranteed future event.
Mistake: Confusing conditional endings with imperfect endings.
Correct: Conditional endings are -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían; imperfect endings are -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
Why: While similar, the conditional endings have an accent on the 'i' (except for nosotros/vosotros), while the imperfect does not.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: prescindo
The present tense ('prescindo', 'prescindes') describes current actions or general truths about doing without things.
Preterite
yo: prescindí
The preterite of prescindir is regular: 'prescindí', 'prescindiste', 'prescindió', 'prescindimos', 'prescindisteis', 'prescindieron'.
Imperfect
yo: prescindía
The imperfect ('prescindía', 'prescindías') describes past habits or ongoing situations of doing without.
Future
yo: prescindiré
The future tense ('prescindiré', 'prescindirás') indicates actions of doing without that will happen later.
Present Subjunctive
yo: prescinda
The present subjunctive ('prescinda', 'prescindas') follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: prescindiera
Use the imperfect subjunctive ('prescindiera' or 'prescindiese') for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: prescinde
Use imperative forms like 'prescinde' (tú) and 'prescinda' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no prescindas
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no prescindas' (tú) or 'no prescinda' (usted).