subsistir Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
subsistir — to subsist
Commands like 'subsiste' (you singular) or 'subsistan' (they/you plural) are formed by taking the present subjunctive, with 'tú' and 'vosotros' being exceptions.
subsistir Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use the imperative for direct commands. For 'subsistir', this might be telling someone to simply keep going or manage with very little.
Notes on subsistir in the Affirmative Imperative
The imperative for 'subsistir' is regular for usted/ustedes/nosotros (subsista, subsistan, subsistamos). However, the tú form ('subsiste') and vosotros form ('subsistid') are irregular, derived from the present indicative and infinitive respectively.
Example Sentences
¡Subsiste con lo que tengas!
Subsist with what you have!
tú
Ustedes, ¡subsistan como puedan!
You all, subsist as you can!
ustedes
Nosotros, ¡subsistamos con dignidad!
Let's subsist with dignity!
nosotros
Vosotros, ¡subsistid hasta que llegue la ayuda!
You all (informal plural), subsist until the help arrives!
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present subjunctive for tú instead of the imperative form.
Correct: The correct tú imperative is 'subsiste', not 'subsistas'.
Why: The tú imperative for -ir verbs ending in -ir often takes the 'a' ending from the present subjunctive, but 'subsistir' is an exception here, using the 'e' ending from the present indicative.
Mistake: Confusing the vosotros imperative with the subjunctive.
Correct: The correct vosotros imperative is 'subsistid', not 'subsistáis'.
Why: The vosotros imperative for regular -ir verbs is formed by replacing the -r with -d.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: subsisto
The present indicative 'subsisto' is used for current states, habitual actions, or general truths about subsisting.
Preterite
yo: subsistí
The preterite of 'subsistir' is regular: subsistí, subsististe, subsistió, subsistimos, subsististeis, subsistieron.
Imperfect
yo: subsistía
The imperfect 'subsistía' describes ongoing or habitual past actions of subsisting, or sets the background scene.
Future
yo: subsistiré
The future tense 'subsistiré' is regular and used for actions that will happen or to express probability.
Conditional
yo: subsistiría
The conditional 'subsistiría' expresses hypotheticals ('would subsist'), polite requests, or future-in-the-past actions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: subsista
The present subjunctive ('subsista') is used after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: subsistiera
The imperfect subjunctive ('subsistiera' or 'subsistiese') expresses past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts, often in 'if' clauses.
Negative Imperative
yo: no subsistas
Negative commands like 'no subsistas' (you singular) or 'no subsistan' (they/you plural) are always formed using the present subjunctive with 'no'.