Inklingo
A large, strong human hand gently cups and covers a tiny, vulnerable yellow bird chick, shielding it from a light drizzle of rain.

proteger Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation

proteger — to protect

A2Spelling Change (g -> j) -er★★★★★
Quick answer:

The imperfect subjunctive of proteger is regular: protegiera, protegieras, protegiera, protegiéramos, protegierais, protegieran.

proteger Imperfect Subjunctive Forms

yoprotegiera
túprotegieras
él/ella/ustedprotegiera
nosotrosprotegiéramos
vosotrosprotegierais
ellos/ellas/ustedesprotegieran

When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive

Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations or past requests regarding protection.

Notes on proteger in the Imperfect Subjunctive

This tense is regular for proteger. It is based on the 3rd person plural preterite (protegieron).

Example Sentences

  • Si yo protegiera mi dinero, tendría más ahorros.

    If I protected my money, I would have more savings.

    yo

  • Me pidió que protegiera a su gato.

    He asked me to protect (look after) his cat.

    él/ella/usted

Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: Using a 'j' (protejiera).

    Correct: protegiera

    Why: The spelling change to 'j' only happens before 'a' or 'o'. Before 'i' or 'e', the 'g' is correct.

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Related Tenses

Present

yo: protejo

Proteger has a spelling change in the 'yo' form: protejo, proteges, protege, protegemos, protegéis, protegen.

Preterite

yo: protegí

The preterite of proteger is regular: protegí, protegiste, protegió, protegimos, protegisteis, protegieron.

Imperfect

yo: protegía

The imperfect of proteger is regular: protegía, protegías, protegía, protegíamos, protegíais, protegían.

Future

yo: protegeré

The future of proteger is regular: protegeré, protegerás, protegerá, protegeremos, protegeréis, protegerán.

Conditional

yo: protegería

The conditional of proteger is regular: protegería, protegerías, protegería, protegeríamos, protegeríais, protegerían.

Present Subjunctive

yo: proteja

The present subjunctive of proteger uses 'j' in all forms: proteja, protejas, proteja, protejamos, protejáis, protejan.

Affirmative Imperative

yo: protege

The imperative uses 'g' for 'tú' and 'vosotros', but 'j' for 'usted' and 'nosotros': protege, proteja, protejamos, proteged, protejan.

Negative Imperative

yo: no protejas

The negative imperative always uses 'j': no protejas, no proteja, no protejamos, no protejáis, no protejan.