Atreviese

Atreviese is the imperfect subjunctive form of the Spanish reflexive verb atreverse, meaning to dare or to have the courage to do something. As a pronominal verb, its reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) marks the subject’s involvement in the action. In ordinary speech and writing, atreverses are used to describe hypothetical or past-diction scenarios in which someone dares to act.

Usage and forms: The imperfect subjunctive has two widely used variants: -se and -ra endings. Therefore, forms such as me atreviese, te atreviese, se atreviese, nos atreviesemos, os atrevieseis, se atreviesen exist alongside the corresponding -ra forms like me atreviera, te atreviera, etc. The choice between -se and -ra variants depends largely on regional preference; both are accepted in standard Spanish and appear in literary and formal registers. The imperfect subjunctive is typically used in dependent clauses after verbs of desire, doubt, or emotion, in wishes, or in conditions introduced by si (if) or aunque (even if).

Examples:

- Si se atreviese a decir la verdad, cambiaría la opinión de muchos.

- Aunque me atreviese a intentarlo, no sabía si podría lograrlo.

- Dijo que se atreviese a hacerlo, y finalmente lo intentó.

Notes: The form is most common in contexts of hypothetical past or politeness, rather than in everyday casual speech, where other tenses may be preferred. It is always used with a reflexive pronoun in this verb class, indicating the person who dares. See also the base verb atreverse.