pretender Conditional Conjugation
pretender — to intend
The conditional of pretender is: pretendería, pretenderías, pretendería, pretenderíamos, pretenderíais, pretenderían.
pretender Conditional Forms
When to Use the Conditional
Use the conditional to talk about what you or someone else would intend or try to do under certain circumstances, or for polite requests.
Notes on pretender in the Conditional
Pretender is regular in the conditional tense. The stem is the infinitive 'pretender', and the endings are the standard conditional endings.
Example Sentences
Yo pretendería ayudarte si pudiera.
I would try to help you if I could.
yo
¿Tú pretenderías mentirle?
Would you try to lie to him?
tú
Él pretendería ser más simpático.
He would try to be nicer.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros pretenderíamos ir.
We would intend to go.
nosotros
Ellos pretenderían negociar.
They would try to negotiate.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing conditional with future tense.
Correct: Use the conditional ('pretendería') for hypothetical 'would' statements, and the future ('pretenderé') for definite future actions.
Why: The conditional expresses hypothetical or uncertain outcomes, while the future expresses more certainty.
Mistake: Incorrectly forming the stem.
Correct: The stem is the full infinitive 'pretender'.
Why: Like the future, 'pretender' is regular in the conditional, using its full infinitive as the stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pretendo
The present indicative of pretender is: pretendo, pretendes, pretende, pretendemos, pretendéis, pretenden.
Preterite
yo: pretendí
The preterite of pretender is regular: pretendí, pretendiste, pretendió, pretendimos, pretendisteis, pretendieron.
Imperfect
yo: pretendía
The imperfect of pretender is: pretendía, pretendías, pretendía, pretendíamos, pretendíais, pretendían.
Future
yo: pretenderé
The future tense of pretender uses the infinitive stem: pretenderé, pretenderás, pretenderá, pretenderemos, pretenderéis, pretenderán.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pretenda
The present subjunctive of pretender is: pretenda (yo/él/ella/usted), pretendamos (nosotros), pretendáis (vosotros), pretendan (ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pretendiera
The imperfect subjunctive of pretender has two forms for each pronoun: pretendiera/pretendiese, pretendieras/pretendieses, etc.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pretende
Imperative forms of pretender are: pretende (tú), pretenda (usted), pretendamos (nosotros), pretended (vosotros), pretendan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no pretendas
Negative commands for pretender use the present subjunctive: no pretendas (tú), no pretenda (usted), no pretendamos (nosotros), no pretendáis (vosotros), no pretendan (ustedes).