【英文版西语语法】Imperfect Subjunctive

 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.