respectar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
respectar — to concern
The imperfect subjunctive of respectar uses -ra or -se endings: respectara, respectaras, respectase, etc.
respectar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of respectar for hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or doubts that were relevant in the past. It often appears in 'if' clauses.
Notes on respectar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Respectar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms are correct, though -ra is more common in many regions.
Example Sentences
Si yo respetara sus consejos, no habría tenido problemas.
If I had respected his advice, I wouldn't have had problems.
yo
Él actuó como si no te respetara.
He acted as if he didn't respect you.
él/ella/usted
Dudaba que ellos nos respetaran.
I doubted that they respected us.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me pidió que respetase sus decisiones.
He asked me to respect his decisions.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of imperfect subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'respetara' or 'respetase' in clauses expressing doubt, hypothesis, or past wishes.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express non-factual or subjective situations.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'respectara' and 'respectase' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms for 'yo'.
Why: While regional preferences exist, both endings are grammatically valid.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: respecto
The present indicative of respectar is regular: respeto, respetas, respeta, respetamos, respetáis, respetan.
Preterite
yo: respecté
The preterite of respectar is regular: respecté, respetaste, respetó, respetamos, respetasteis, respectaron.
Imperfect
yo: respectaba
The imperfect of respectar is regular: respectaba, respectabas, respectaba, respectábamos, respectabais, respectaban.
Future
yo: respectaré
The future of respectar is regular: respetaré, respetarás, respetará, respetaremos, respetaréis, respetarán.
Conditional
yo: respectaría
The conditional of respectar is regular: respetaría, respetarías, respetaría, respetaríamos, respetaríais, respetarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: respecte
The present subjunctive of respectar is regular: respete, respetes, respetemos, respetéis, respeten.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: respecta
The imperative of respectar is regular: respeta, respete, respetemos, respetad, respeten.
Negative Imperative
yo: no respectes
The negative imperative of respectar uses 'no' + present subjunctive: no respetes, no respete, no respetemos, no respetéis, no respeten.