Imperfecto de Subjuntivo (Imperfect Subjunctive Tense)
The imperfecto de subjuntivo is used to express hypothetical situations, doubts, wishes, or emotions about past actions. It is often used in dependent clauses that follow verbs or expressions that trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mood:
The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, emotion, wishes, or uncertainty, and in the imperfect subjunctive tense, it refers to actions or situations in the past that are uncertain, hypothetical, or desired.
- Subjunctive mood = doubt, wishes, hypothetical or subjective situations
- Imperfect subjunctive tense = hypothetical or uncertain actions in the past
Usage:
- To express hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations in the past: Si tuviera más tiempo, viajaría más. (If I had more time, I would travel more.)
- To express wishes or regrets about the past: Ojalá hubiera estudiado más. (I wish I had studied more.)
- To express doubt or uncertainty about past actions: No creía que pudieras hacerlo. (I didn’t believe you could do it.)
- To describe polite or formal requests: Quisiera hablar contigo. (I would like to speak with you.)
- In sentences with verbs that trigger the subjunctive: Me sorprendió que vinieras. (It surprised me that you came.)
Triggering Phrases:
The imperfect subjunctive is triggered by many of the same phrases that trigger the present subjunctive, but the context shifts to the past:
- Si (if) (for hypothetical situations)
- Ojalá que (I wish that)
- Era posible que (It was possible that)
- No creía que (I didn’t believe that)
- Quería que (I wanted that)
Formation:
The imperfect subjunctive has two conjugation forms in Spanish: the -ra form (more common) and the -se form. Both forms are interchangeable, but the -ra form is generally preferred in modern usage.
Regular Conjugation (-ra Form):
| Person | AR Verbs | ER Verbs | IR Verbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablara | comiera | viviera |
| Tú | hablaras | comieras | vivieras |
| Él/Ella/Usted | hablara | comiera | viviera |
| Nosotros | habláramos | comiéramos | viviéramos |
| Vosotros | hablarais | comierais | vivierais |
| Ellos/Ustedes | hablaran | comieran | vivieran |
Irregular Verbs:
Irregular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive follow the same irregular patterns as in the preterite indicative. For example:
- Ser/Ir (to be/go): fuera, fueras, fuera, fuéramos, fuerais, fueran
- Hacer (to do/make): hiciera, hicieras, hiciera, hiciéramos, hicierais, hicieran
- Tener (to have): tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera, tuviéramos, tuvierais, tuvieran
- Estar (to be): estuviera, estuvieras, estuviera, estuviéramos, estuvierais, estuvieran
Common Time Expressions:
- Si (if) (used for conditional/hypothetical clauses)
- Ojalá (I wish)
- Antes de que (before) (in past contexts)
- Era posible que (It was possible that)
Examples:
- Si yo fuera rico, compraría una casa en la playa. (If I were rich, I would buy a house on the beach.)
- Ojalá que hubiera llovido ayer. (I wish it had rained yesterday.)
- No creía que ellos vinieran. (I didn’t believe they would come.)
- Quisiera pedirte un favor. (I would like to ask you for a favor.)
