retratar Negative Imperative Conjugation
retratar — to take a portrait
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: 'no retrates' (tú), 'no retrate' (usted).
retratar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use the negative imperative to tell someone *not* to do something. For 'retratar', it means 'don't capture' or 'don't pose'.
Notes on retratar in the Negative Imperative
All negative commands are formed using the present subjunctive mood with 'no' preceding the verb. The forms are regular based on the present subjunctive conjugation.
Example Sentences
No retrates la escena si no te sientes cómodo.
Don't capture the scene if you don't feel comfortable.
tú
No retrate esa imagen, por favor.
Don't capture that image, please.
usted
No retratéis cosas que no entendéis.
Don't capture things you don't understand.
vosotros
No retratemos el momento sin permiso.
Let's not capture the moment without permission.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive after 'no'.
Correct: Use 'no retratar' for informal negative commands directed at 'vosotros' (e.g., '¡No retratar!' is incorrect). The correct form is '¡No retratéis!'.
Why: Negative commands for tú, usted, ustedes, and nosotros use the subjunctive; for vosotros, it uses the infinitive with 'no' before it or the subjunctive form ending in -éis.
Mistake: Confusing 'no retrates' (subjunctive) with 'no retratas' (indicative).
Correct: For a negative command to 'tú', use 'no retrates'.
Why: The present indicative 'no retratas' describes a current habitual action ('you don't usually capture'), while the subjunctive 'no retrates' is a command ('don't capture').
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: retrato
Regular present tense: retrato, retratas, retrata, retratamos, retratáis, retratan.
Preterite
yo: retraté
Retratar is regular in the preterite: retraté, retrataste, retrató, retratamos, retratasteis, retrataron.
Imperfect
yo: retrataba
Regular imperfect: retrataba, retratabas, retrataba, retratábamos, retratabais, retrataban.
Future
yo: retrataré
Regular future: retrataré, retratarás, retratará, retrataremos, retrataréis, retratarán.
Conditional
yo: retrataría
Regular conditional: retrataría, retratarías, retrataría, retrataríamos, retrataríais, retratarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: retrate
Present subjunctive 'retrate' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'retrates' (tú) express wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: retratara
The imperfect subjunctive 'retratara' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'retrataras' (tú) are used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: retrata
Imperative 'retrata' (tú) and 'retrate' (usted) are irregular, while others follow the regular -ar pattern.