sentir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
sentir — to feel
Sentir uses the stem 'sintier-' for all forms in the imperfect subjunctive.
sentir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations (e.g., 'If I felt...') or after past-tense expressions of emotion.
Notes on sentir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The stem comes from the preterite 3rd person plural (sintieron). All forms use 'sinti-'.
Example Sentences
Si yo sintiera frío, me pondría un abrigo.
If I felt cold, I would put on a coat.
yo
Me gustó que sintieras confianza en mí.
I liked that you felt trust in me.
tú
Si sintiéramos miedo, no estaríamos aquí.
If we felt fear, we wouldn't be here.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: sentiera
Correct: sintiera
Why: The imperfect subjunctive always follows the stem of the 3rd person preterite (sintieron).
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: siento
Sentir has an e > ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: sentí
Sentir is irregular in the third person, changing e > i: sintió and sintieron.
Imperfect
yo: sentía
Sentir is regular in the imperfect: sentía, sentías, sentía, sentíamos, sentíais, sentían.
Future
yo: sentiré
Sentir is completely regular in the future tense: sentiré, sentirás, sentirá...
Conditional
yo: sentiría
Sentir is regular in the conditional: sentiría, sentirías, sentiría, sentiríamos, sentiríais, sentirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sienta
Sentir has a dual stem change: e > ie in most forms, and e > i in nosotros/vosotros.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: siente
The imperative uses 'siente' (tú) and 'sienta' (usted), following present stem changes.
Negative Imperative
yo: no sientas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no sientas, no sienta, no sintamos, no sintáis, no sientan.