pulsar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
pulsar — to press
The imperfect subjunctive (pulsara/pulsase) is for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'Si pulsara el botón...'.
pulsar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, polite requests, or to express wishes or doubts about past events. It often appears in 'if' clauses (si...).
Notes on pulsar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Pulsar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se endings are correct, with -ra being more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si pulsara el botón correcto, la máquina funcionaría.
If I pressed the right button, the machine would work.
yo
Me gustaría que usted pulsara este enlace.
I would like you to press this link.
¿Qué harías si pulsaras el botón de emergencia?
What would you do if you pressed the emergency button?
tú
Ojalá ellos pulsaran la opción correcta.
I wish they would press the correct option.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'pulsara' or 'pulsase', not 'pulsó'.
Why: The preterite refers to completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with hypotheticals or unreal situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, especially with irregular verbs.
Correct: For pulsar, both 'pulsara' and 'pulsase' work, but be consistent.
Why: While both are correct, learners sometimes mix them or use them incorrectly with verbs that have distinct -ra/-se stems.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pulso
The present tense 'pulso', 'pulsas', 'pulsa' describes current actions or habits.
Preterite
yo: pulsé
The preterite of pulsar is regular: 'pulsé', 'pulsaste', 'pulsó', 'pulsamos', 'pulsasteis', 'pulsaron' for completed actions.
Imperfect
yo: pulsaba
The imperfect 'pulsaba' describes ongoing or habitual past actions, like 'Yo pulsaba el botón a menudo'.
Future
yo: pulsaré
The future tense 'pulsaré', 'pulsarás' indicates actions that will happen, like 'Pulsaré el botón mañana'.
Conditional
yo: pulsaría
The conditional 'pulsaría' is for hypotheticals ('would press') or polite requests, like 'Pulsaría el botón si pudiera'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pulse
Use the present subjunctive (pulse, pulsemos) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion, like 'Espero que pulses el botón'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pulsa
Use 'pulsa' (tú) and 'pulse' (usted) for direct commands, like 'pulsa el botón'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pulses
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, e.g., 'no pulses el botón'.