tomara
toe-MAH-rah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Si yo tomara más agua, tendría más energía.
B1If I drank more water, I would have more energy.
Me gustaría que él tomara el tren.
B1I would like him to take the train.
Si ella tomara la decisión hoy, estaríamos listos.
B2If she were to take the decision today, we would be ready.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'What If' Form
This word is the 'past subjunctive' form. Use it after 'si' (if) when you're talking about things that aren't currently true or are just imaginary.
Double Identity
This exact word 'tomara' works for both 'I' (yo) and 'he/she/you formal' (él/ella/usted). The context of your sentence will tell people who you're talking about.
❌ Common Pitfalls
If I Was vs If I Were
Mistake: "Si yo tomé café, no dormiría."
Correction: Si yo tomara café, no dormiría. (Use 'tomara' for 'if' scenarios, not the standard past tense 'tomé').
⭐ Usage Tips
An Alternative Version
You might occasionally hear 'tomase' instead of 'tomara'. They mean the exact same thing, but 'tomara' is much more common in everyday conversation.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tomara
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'If he took the medicine, he would feel better'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tomara' the same as 'tomó'?
No. 'Tomó' means someone definitely took something in the past ('He took the bus'). 'Tomara' is for imaginary or uncertain situations ('If he took the bus...').
Can 'tomara' mean 'to drink'?
Yes! In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'tomar' is the preferred word for 'to drink' (beverages), so 'tomara' often translates to 'were to drink' or 'drank' in hypothetical contexts.