querer Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
querer — to want
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'quis-' stem from the preterite: quisiera, quisieras, quisiera.
querer Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Extremely common for very polite requests ('I would like') or in 'if' clauses (If I wanted...).
Notes on querer in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is built from the third-person plural of the preterite (quisieron). The stem is 'quis-'.
Example Sentences
Quisiera dos kilos de manzanas, por favor.
I would like two kilos of apples, please.
yo
Si tú quisieras, podríamos ir de viaje.
If you wanted to, we could go on a trip.
tú
Me gustaría que ellos quisieran participar.
I would like them to want to participate.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'queriera'.
Correct: The correct form is quisiera.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive must be based on the irregular preterite stem 'quis-', not the infinitive.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'querer' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: quiero
Querer is a stem-changing verb where the 'e' becomes 'ie' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: quise
The preterite of querer uses the irregular stem 'quis-' with endings like quise, quisiste, and quiso.
Imperfect
yo: quería
The imperfect of querer is regular: quería, querías, quería, queríamos, queríais, querían.
Future
yo: querré
The future tense of querer uses the irregular stem 'querr-' followed by standard future endings.
Conditional
yo: querría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'querr-' with endings like querría, querrías, querría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: quiera
The present subjunctive follows the e > ie stem change: quiera, quieras, quiera, queramos, queráis, quieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: quiere
The imperative of querer is rarely used, but follows the standard command forms: quiere, quiera, quered, quieran.
Negative Imperative
yo: no quieras
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no quieras, no quiera, no queramos, no queráis, no quieran.