relatar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
relatar — to tell
The imperfect subjunctive (relatara/relatase) is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
relatar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is used for hypothetical situations in the past, polite requests, or expressing wishes that didn't happen. For example, 'Si relatara mi viaje, te gustaría' means 'If I were to tell about my trip, you would like it.' It often appears in 'if' clauses.
Notes on relatar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Relatar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra (relatara) and -se (relatase) forms are correct and interchangeable.
Example Sentences
Me gustaría que tú relataras la historia completa.
I would like you to tell the whole story.
tú
Si yo relatara mis sueños, parecerían cuentos de hadas.
If I told my dreams, they would seem like fairy tales.
yo
Ellos pidieron que el testigo relatara todo lo que vio.
They asked that the witness tell everything he saw.
él/ella/usted
Era importante que ustedes relataran los eventos sin omitir detalles.
It was important that you (plural) tell the events without omitting details.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'relatara' or 'relatase' in hypothetical or past wish clauses.
Why: The preterite describes completed actions, while the imperfect subjunctive deals with unreality or past subjunctive contexts.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'relatara' and 'relatase' are correct.
Why: Spanish allows two forms for the imperfect subjunctive; they are generally interchangeable.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'relatar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: relato
The present tense 'relato', 'relatas', 'relata' is used for current or habitual telling.
Preterite
yo: relaté
The preterite of 'relatar' is regular: relaté, relataste, relató, relatamos, relatasteis, relataron.
Imperfect
yo: relataba
The imperfect 'relataba' describes past storytelling that was ongoing or habitual.
Future
yo: relataré
The future tense 'relataré' and 'relatarán' indicates telling that will happen.
Conditional
yo: relataría
The conditional 'relataría' is for hypothetical or polite storytelling.
Present Subjunctive
yo: relate
Present subjunctive forms like 'relate' and 'relaten' follow expressions of doubt or desire.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: relata
Use imperative forms like 'relata' and 'relaten' for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no relates
Negative commands like 'no relates' and 'no relaten' use the present subjunctive.