quejarse Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
quejarse — to complain
Use me quejara/quejase, te quejaras/quejases, etc., for past hypothetical situations or wishes with quejarse.
quejarse Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is often used in 'if' clauses to talk about hypothetical or unlikely situations in the past, or to express wishes and doubts about the past.
Notes on quejarse in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Quejarse is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra or -se ending (e.g., 'quejara' or 'quejase'), though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si me quejara más, tal vez me harían caso.
If I complained more, maybe they would pay attention to me.
yo
Ojalá no te quejaras tanto de tu trabajo.
I wish you wouldn't complain so much about your job.
tú
Ella actuaba como si se quejara de todo.
She acted as if she complained about everything.
No creía que ellos se quejaran por eso.
I didn't think they would complain about that.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: For hypothetical or unreal past conditions, use the imperfect subjunctive, e.g., 'Si me quejara...' not 'Si me quejé...' or 'Si me quejaba...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive signals unreality or hypothetical situations, which is key in these constructions.
Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun.
Correct: Always include the reflexive pronoun: 'me quejara', 'te quejaras', etc.
Why: 'Quejarse' is reflexive, and the pronoun must agree with the subject.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me quejo
The present tense of quejarse is regular: me quejo, te quejas, se queja, nos quejamos, os quejáis, se quejan.
Preterite
yo: me quejé
The preterite of quejarse is regular: me quejé, te quejaste, se quejó, nos quejamos, os quejasteis, se quejaron.
Imperfect
yo: me quejaba
The imperfect of quejarse is regular: me quejaba, te quejabas, se quejaba, nos quejábamos, os quejabais, se quejaban.
Future
yo: me quejaré
The future tense of quejarse is regular: me quejaré, te quejarás, se quejará, nos quejaremos, os quejaréis, se quejarán.
Conditional
yo: me quejaría
The conditional of quejarse is regular: me quejaría, te quejarías, se quejaría, nos quejaríamos, os quejaríais, se quejarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me queje
Use me queje, te quejes, se queje, nos quejemos, os quejéis, se quejen after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion with quejarse.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: quéjate
Use quéjate, quéjese, quéjense, quejaos, quejémonos for direct commands with quejarse.
Negative Imperative
yo: no te quejes
Use no te quejes, no se queje, no se quejen, no os quejéis, no nos quejemos for negative commands with quejarse.