Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
Finding the Imperfect Subjunctive Stem
To conjugate a verb in the imperfect subjunctive, you'll need to know the third person plural (ellos,
ellas
) preterite form of the verb you're using. Why? Instead of using the infinitive for a stem, the imperfect subjunctive uses the third person plural of the preterite (minus the -ron). Whatever the third person preterite from of a verb is, whether regular or irregular, becomes the base for the imperfect subjunctive stem.
Imperfect Subjunctive Stem Formula
imperfect subjunctive stem = third person plural preterite form minus -ron ending
Imperfect Subjunctive Stem Examples
Here are the imperfect subjunctive stems of some common Spanish verbs.
Infinitive Third Person Preterite Form Imperfect Subjunctive Stem
caber
cupieron
cupie-
dar
dieron
die-
decir
dijeron
dije-
dormir
durmieron
durmie-
estar
estuvieron
estuvie-
haber
hubieron
hubie-
hablar
hablaron
habla-
hacer
hicieron
hicie-
ir
fueron
fue-
leer
leyeron
leye-
tener
tuvieron
tuvie-
pedir
pidieron
pidie-
poder
pudieron
pudie-
poner
pusieron
pusie-
preferir
prefirieron
prefirie-
querer
quisieron
quisie-
saber
supieron
supie-
sentir
sintieron
sintie-
ser
fueron
fue-
traducir
tradujeron
traduje-
traer
trajeron
traje-
ver
vieron
vie-
Imperfect Subjunctive Endings
When conjugating the imperfect subjunctive, you can choose from two different sets of endings. Both are correct, though use of the first set, whose yo ending is -ra, is more widespread.
Subject Subjunctive 1 Endings Subjunctive 2 Endings
yo -ra -se
tú -ras -ses
él, ella, usted -ra -se
nosotros -ramos -semos
vosotros -rais -seis
ellos, ellas, ustedes -ran -sen
Watch out for the accents
Nosotros imperfect subjunctive conjugations have a tilde on the vowel that comes immediately before the subjunctive ending. For example:
habláramos /hablásemos
escribiéramos/escribiésemos
Here a three common verbs conjugated in the imperfect subjunctive with each set of endings.
Subjunctive 1
Subject Hablar Hacer Traducir
yo
hablara
hiciera
tradujera
tú
hablaras
hicieras
tradujeras
él, ella, usted
hablara
hiciera
tradujera
nosotros
habláramos
hiciéramos
tradujéramos
vosotros
hablarais
hicierais
tradujerais
ellos, ellas, ustedes
hablaran
hicieran
tradujeran
Subjunctive 2
Subject Hablar Hacer Traducir
yo
hablase
hiciese
tradujese
tú
hablases
hicieses
tradujeses
él, ella, usted
hablase
hicieses
tradujese
nosotros
hablásemos
hiciésemos
tradujésemos
vosotros
hablaseis
hicieseis
tradujeseis
ellos, ellas, ustedes
hablasen
hiciesen
tradujesen
Imperfect Subjunctive Uses
The imperfect subject can be used to talk about past occurrences, current opinions of past events, doubts and wishes, as well as in if clauses and polite requests.
1. Past Occurrences
If the WEIRDO verb in the independent clause is in the preterite or the imperfect, then the subjunctive verb that follows will be imperfect.
Quise que vinieras/vinieses a mi fiesta.
I wanted you to come to my party.
Tenía miedo de que no lloviera/lloviese.
I was scared it wouldn't rain.
Le iba a prestar dinero para que se comprara un abrigo.
I was going to lend him money so he could buy a coat.
2. Current Opinions of Past Events
The imperfect subjunctive can also be used to express current emotions, doubts, etc. about something that happened in the past.
Es bueno que él se casara/casase.
It's good that he got married.
No me parece que el viaje fuera/fuese largo.
It doesn't seem to me that the journey was long.
3. Doubts and Wishes
It's common to see ojalá or ojalá que used with the imperfect subjunctive to express the idea of hoping for something that is unlikely to happen or is impossible.
Ojalá que nevara/nevase en Panamá.
I wish it were snowing in Panama.
Ojalá mi hermano se casara/casase.
I wish my brother were getting married.
4. If Clauses
When preceded by si (if), the imperfect subjunctive is often used to talk about hypotheticals. Note that the other verb in these constructions is in the conditional.
Si yo fuera/fuese reina, viajaría por todo el mundo.
If I were queen, I would travel all over the world.
Pintaría más seguido si tuviera/tuviese más tiempo.
I would paint more often if I had more time.
5. Polite Suggestions and Requests
The imperfect subjunctive can be used to make very polite suggestions or formal requests.
Quisiera/Quisiese dos semanas de vacaciones.
I would like two weeks of vacation.
