LoginImperfect Subjunctive For Intermediate learners
What Is the Imperfect Subjunctive?
The imperfect subjunctive (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo) expresses actions or states that are uncertain, hypothetical, desired, or dependent on another past action.
Structure
To form an imperfect subjunctive verb, start from the third-person plural (ellos/ellas) form of the past simple and remove the final -ron to get the imperfect subjunctive stem. Keep in mind that the imperfect subjunctive stem of many verbs is the same as the indicative stem, but irregular verbs (for example, ir, ser, hacer, ver, etc.) have different forms in the imperfect subjunctive.
hablar → hablaron (third-person plural in simple past) → habla- (imperfect subjunctive stem)
hacer → hicieron (third-person plural in simple past) → hicie- (imperfect subjunctive stem)
ir → fueron (third-person plural in simple past) → fue- (imperfect subjunctive stem)
After obtaining the present subjunctive stem, you can conjugate the verb based on the subject. The table below shows the imperfect subjunctive ending of verbs based on the subject which is the same for the different infinitive types. Keep in mind that the "vosotros" form is only used in Spain, and Latin American Spanish uses the "ustedes" form in all contexts.
yo | -ra |
|---|---|
tú | -ras |
él/ella/usted | -ra |
nosotros/as | -ramos |
vosotros/as | -rais |
ellos/ellas/ustedes | -ran |
Here are some example sentences:
Si fuera tú, no lo haría.
If I were you, I wouldn't do it.
No creía que hiciera eso.
I didn't think he/she would do that.
Ojalá vinieras mañana.
I wish you would come tomorrow.
Uses
The imperfect subjunctive is mainly used:
In dependent clauses, after verbs of wish, emotion, doubt and denial, and recommendation, or an impersonal expression in the past simple or imperfect.
Quería que vinieras.
I wanted you to come.
Dudaba que tuviera dinero.
I doubted that he had money.
Era importante que llegaran a tiempo.
It was important that they arrived on time.
In "si" (if) clauses of type II conditional sentences to refer to hypothetical situations.
Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría.
If I had time, I would travel.
Si pudieras, ¿me ayudarías?
If you could, would you help me?
In relative clauses, when the main clause is in the past and the antecedent is nonexistent, indefinite, or negated.
Querían a alguien que supiera cocinar.
They wanted someone who knew how to cook.
No conocía a nadie que viviera allí.
I didn't know anyone who lived there.
After "ojalá" (hope, wish) in the past.
Ojalá ganaras la lotería.
I wish you won the lottery.
Polite or softened suggestions and requests.
Quisiera hablar contigo.
I would like to talk with you.
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