Congiuntivo Imperfetto (Subjunctive Imperfect)
The Congiuntivo Imperfetto is used to express uncertainty, doubt, wishes, emotions, or hypothetical situations in the past. It often appears in subordinate clauses following certain verbs, expressions, or conjunctions that require the subjunctive.
Mood:
The Congiuntivo Imperfetto uses the subjunctive mood, which expresses possibility, doubt, desire, or hypothetical situations rather than factual statements.
- Mood: Subjunctive (used for uncertainty, hypothetical, or desired past actions)
Usage:
- In dependent clauses after verbs or expressions that require the subjunctive when the main clause is in a past or conditional tense:
Volevo che tu parlassi. (I wanted you to speak.) - To express hypothetical situations in the present or future when combined with condizionale presente in the main clause:
Se io avessi tempo, viaggerei di più. (If I had time, I would travel more.) - To talk about something unreal or unlikely in the past:
Se fossi stato lì, avrei aiutato. (If I had been there, I would have helped.) - In polite or softened requests in the past.
Formation:
The Congiuntivo Imperfetto is formed from the root of the passato remoto, adding the endings -ssi, -ssi, -sse, -ssimo, -ste, -ssero for all conjugations.
Example with parlare (to speak):
parlassi, parlassi, parlasse, parlassimo, parlaste, parlassero
Example with credere (to believe):
credessi, credessi, credesse, credessimo, credeste, credessero
Example with finire (to finish):
finissi, finissi, finisse, finissimo, finiste, finissero
Conjugation:
Parlare (to speak) – Regular -are verb
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| Io | parlassi |
| Tu | parlassi |
| Lui/Lei | parlasse |
| Noi | parlassimo |
| Voi | parlaste |
| Loro | parlassero |
Credere (to believe) – Regular -ere verb
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| Io | credessi |
| Tu | credessi |
| Lui/Lei | credesse |
| Noi | credessimo |
| Voi | credeste |
| Loro | credessero |
Finire (to finish) – Regular -ire verb
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| Io | finissi |
| Tu | finissi |
| Lui/Lei | finisse |
| Noi | finissimo |
| Voi | finiste |
| Loro | finissero |
Common Triggers:
- volevo che (I wanted that)
- pensavo che (I thought that)
- se (if) – in hypothetical clauses
- come se (as if)
- era possibile che (it was possible that)
Examples:
- Non credevo che tu sapessi la verità. (I didn’t believe you knew the truth.)
- Se fossi ricco, comprerei una casa al mare. (If I were rich, I would buy a house by the sea.)
- Parlava come se avesse studiato per anni. (He spoke as if he had studied for years.)
