retirar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
retirar — to remove
The imperfect subjunctive of 'retirar' has two forms: 'retirara/retirase' and 'retiraras/retirases', used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
retirar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is for hypothetical situations, past wishes, or polite requests in the past. For example, 'Me gustaría que retiraras tu oferta' (I would like you to withdraw your offer) or 'Si retirara el dinero, lo gastaría todo' (If I withdrew the money, I would spend it all).
Notes on retirar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Retirar' is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the '-ra' and '-se' endings are correct, though the '-ra' form is more common in many regions. The stem is formed from the preterite, dropping the '-ron'.
Example Sentences
Si yo retirara el dinero, compraría una casa.
If I withdrew the money, I would buy a house.
yo
Ojalá tú retiraras tu voto.
I wish you would withdraw your vote.
tú
Él pidió que usted retirara los cargos.
He asked that you withdraw the charges.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros no queríamos que ellos retiraran el producto.
We didn't want them to withdraw the product.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing the imperfect subjunctive with the preterite.
Correct: Use 'si retirara' for a hypothetical condition, not 'si retiró'.
Why: The preterite describes completed past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive describes unreal or hypothetical situations.
Mistake: Using the '-se' form incorrectly or inconsistently.
Correct: Both 'retirara' and 'retirase' are correct, but use one consistently within a sentence or context.
Why: While both are grammatically correct, regional preferences and formality can influence the choice. The '-ra' form is generally more common.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: retiro
The present tense of 'retirar' is regular: retiro, retiras, retira, retiramos, retiráis, retiran, used for current or habitual actions.
Preterite
yo: retiré
The preterite of 'retirar' is regular: retiré, retiraste, retiró, retiramos, retirasteis, retiraron, used for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: retiraba
The imperfect tense of 'retirar' is regular: retiraba, retirabas, retiraba, retirábamos, retirabais, retiraban, used for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: retiraré
The future tense of 'retirar' is regular: retiraré, retirarás, retirará, retiraremos, retiraréis, retirarán, used for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: retiraría
The conditional of 'retirar' is regular: retiraría, retirarías, retiraría, retiraríamos, retiraríais, retirarían, used for hypotheticals and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: retire
The present subjunctive of 'retirar' is 'retire' (yo/usted), 'retires' (tú), 'retiremos' (nosotros), 'retiréis' (vosotros), 'retiren' (ustedes), used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: retira
Use 'retira' (tú), 'retire' (usted), 'retiren' (ustedes), 'retirad' (vosotros), or 'retiremos' (nosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no retires
Use 'no retires' (tú), 'no retire' (usted), 'no retiren' (ustedes), 'no retiréis' (vosotros), or 'no retiremos' (nosotros) for negative commands.