relajar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
relajar — to relax
The imperfect subjunctive ('relajara', 'relajaras', etc.) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
relajar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or to make polite requests, especially after phrases like 'Si yo pudiera...' (If I could...). It often describes situations that were unlikely or unreal.
Notes on relajar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Relajar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You can use either the -ra or -se ending (e.g., 'relajara' or 'relajase'). The -ra form is generally more common.
Example Sentences
Si tuviera más tiempo, me relajara en la playa.
If I had more time, I would relax on the beach.
yo
Ojalá te relajaras más a menudo.
I wish you would relax more often.
tú
Me gustaría que usted se relajara un poco.
I would like you to relax a bit.
Esperábamos que ellos se relajaran después del examen.
We hoped they would relax after the exam.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Si vosotros os relajarais más, no estaríais tan estresados.
If you all relaxed more, you wouldn't be so stressed.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect subjunctive with imperfect indicative.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive ('relajara') for hypotheticals and wishes, not the imperfect indicative ('relajaba').
Why: The indicative mood describes facts or reality, while the subjunctive describes doubt, desire, emotion, or unreality.
Mistake: Using the wrong ending (-ra vs -se).
Correct: Both 'relajara' and 'relajase' are correct, but 'relajara' is more common in everyday speech.
Why: While both are grammatically correct, regional and stylistic preferences exist.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'relajar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: relajo
The present tense 'relajo', 'relajas', etc. is for actions happening now or habitual relaxation.
Preterite
yo: relajé
The preterite of 'relajar' is regular: relajé, relajaste, relajó, relajamos, relajasteis, relajaron.
Imperfect
yo: relajaba
The imperfect 'relajaba', 'relajabas', etc. describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: relajaré
The future tense 'relajaré', 'relajarás', etc. indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: relajaría
The conditional 'relajaría', 'relajarías', etc. expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: relaje
The present subjunctive ('relaje', 'relajes', etc.) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: relaja
Use 'relaja' (tú), 'relaje' (usted), 'relajemos' (nosotros), 'relajen' (ustedes), 'relajad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no relajes
Use 'no relajes' (tú), 'no relaje' (usted), 'no relajemos' (nosotros), 'no relajen' (ustedes), 'no relajéis' (vosotros) for negative commands.