Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive (el imperfecto de subjuntivo) follows many of the same rules as the present subjunctive. Introduced with a preterite, imperfect, conditional, or past perfect verb in the independent clause, the imperfect subjunctive often refers to a previous experience, but can also refer to unlikely events or possibilities. Check out these examples of the imperfect subjunctive.

Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por todo el mundo. If I had more money, I would travel around the whole world.

Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría. If I were you, I wouldn’t do it. 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 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

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	hiciese	tradujese
nosotros	hablásemos	hiciésemos	tradujésemos
vosotros	hablaseis	hicieseis	tradujeseis
ellos, ellas, ustedes	hablasen	hiciesen	tradujesen

Imperfect Subjunctive Uses

The imperfect subjunctive 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.