protestar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive

Use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, doubts, or emotions that were happening or felt in the past. It's often used in 'if' clauses referring to unreal conditions.

Notes on protestar in the Imperfect Subjunctive

Protestar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct, though -ra is more common in many regions. For example, 'protestara' and 'protestase' are interchangeable.

Example Sentences

• Si yo protestara, ¿me escucharían?

  If I complained, would they listen to me?

  yo

• Ojalá tú no protestaras tanto.

  I wish you wouldn't complain so much.

  tú

• Me habría gustado que él protestara más.

  I would have liked him to complain more.

  él/ella/usted

• Si nosotros protestáramos, tal vez cambiaría algo.

  If we complained, maybe something would change.

  nosotros

• Ellos habrían venido si no protestaran las condiciones.

  They would have come if they didn't protest the conditions.

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.

  Correct: In hypothetical or wish clauses, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si yo protestaba' is wrong; use 'Si yo protestara'.

  Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express uncertainty, desire, or hypothetical situations, which the imperfect indicative cannot do.

• Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the nosotros form.

  Correct: The nosotros form is 'protestáramos', with the accent on the 'a'.

  Why: The accent is crucial for pronunciation and to distinguish it from other forms.

Related Tenses