tapar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
tapar — to cover
Use tapara, taparas, tapáramos, etc., for past wishes, hypothetical situations, and polite requests.
tapar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Imagine you're talking about a past situation that was uncertain or hypothetical. For example, 'If I had covered the window...' or 'I wish you would cover it...'. It's often used in conditional sentences.
Notes on tapar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Tapar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (tapara, taparas, etc.) is more common.
Example Sentences
Si yo tapara la caja, no se habría mojado.
If I had covered the box, it wouldn't have gotten wet.
yo
Ella deseaba que tú taparas el hoyo.
She wished that you would cover the hole.
tú
Esperábamos que ellos taparan la entrada.
We hoped that they would cover the entrance.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me gustaría que usted tapara la mesa.
I would like you to cover the table.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing imperfect subjunctive with imperfect indicative.
Correct: Use imperfect subjunctive (tapara) for hypothetical or uncertain past conditions, not imperfect indicative (tapaba).
Why: The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, desire, or unreality, while the imperfect indicative describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Using the -ra form when the -se form is required (less common).
Correct: While both exist, the -ra form (tapara) is generally preferred and more common in modern Spanish.
Why: Learners might mistakenly use the -se form (tapase) or vice-versa in contexts where one is strongly preferred.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: tapo
Use tapo, tapas, tapa, tapamos, tapáis, tapan for actions happening now, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: tapé
The preterite of tapar is regular: tapé, tapaste, tapó, tapamos, tapasteis, taparon.
Imperfect
yo: tapaba
Use tapaba, tapabas, tapaba, tapábamos, etc., for ongoing or habitual past actions, and descriptions.
Future
yo: taparé
Use 1st person singular taparé, taparás, etc., for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: taparía
Use taparía, taparías, etc., for hypotheticals ('would cover'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: tape
Use tape, tapes, tapemos, etc., after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tapa
Use tapa, tape, tapemos, tapad, tapen for direct commands with tapar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no tapes
Use no tapes, no tape, no tapemos, no tapéis, no tapen for negative commands with tapar.