Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo (Imperfect Subjunctive Tense)
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used to express hypothetical, doubtful, or desired actions connected to the past.
It is common in conditional sentences and after verbs that express doubt, desire, or uncertainty.
Mood
The subjunctive mood expresses possibility, doubt, desire, or hypothetical situations.
The imperfect tense in the subjunctive mood refers to past actions that are uncertain, hypothetical, or dependent on another event.
- Subjunctive mood = possibility, uncertainty, subjectivity
- Imperfect tense = past or hypothetical past time frame
Formation
Take the third-person plural (eles) form of the pretérito perfeito do indicativo, remove the final -ram, and add the subjunctive endings:
| Person | AR Example (falar) | ER Example (comer) | IR Example (partir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eu (I) | falasse | comesse | partisse |
| Tu (you, sg.) | falasses | comesses | partisses |
| Ele/Ela/Você | falasse | comesse | partisse |
| Nós (we) | falássemos | comêssemos | partíssemos |
| Vós (you, pl.) | falásseis | comêsseis | partísseis |
| Eles/Elas/Vocês | falassem | comessem | partissem |
Usage
- Hypothetical situations:
Se eu tivesse tempo, viajaria.
(If I had time, I would travel.) - Expressing doubt or uncertainty in the past:
Era importante que ele estudasse mais.
(It was important that he studied more.) - Past wishes or desires:
Queria que ela viesse.
(I wanted her to come.) - Politeness or indirect speech:
Gostaria que você ajudasse.
(I would like you to help.)
Irregular Verbs
Irregularity in this tense comes from irregular pretérito perfeito do indicativo stems.
Here are some common examples:
| Verb | Pretérito Perfeito (eles) | Stem | Example (eu form) |
|---|---|---|---|
| estar | estiveram | estiv- | eu estivesse |
| ser / ir | foram | fos- | eu fosse |
| ter | tiveram | tiv- | eu tivesse |
| haver | houveram | houv- | eu houvesse |
| poder | puderam | pud- | eu pudesse |
| fazer | fizeram | fiz- | eu fizesse |
| dizer | disseram | diss- | eu dissesse |
Brazilian Portuguese Differences
- Pronouns & conjugation:
- BP commonly uses você instead of tu, conjugated like ele/ela:
- BP: Se você tivesse tempo, viajaria.
- EP: Se tu tivesses tempo, viajarias.
- BP commonly uses você instead of tu, conjugated like ele/ela:
- Usage frequency:
- Structure and meaning are the same in BP and EP.
- In informal BP speech, speakers sometimes replace this tense with the present subjunctive or indicative in casual contexts, though it’s considered nonstandard.
- Examples:
- BP: Queria que você chegasse cedo.
- EP: Queria que tu chegasses cedo.
Common Time Expressions & Triggers
- Se (if)
- Caso (in case)
- Queria que (I wanted that)
- Era importante que (It was important that)
- Embora (although)
Examples
- Se eu fosse rico, viajaria pelo mundo.
(If I were rich, I would travel the world.) - Gostaria que ela viesse à festa.
(I would like her to come to the party.) - Era necessário que estudássemos para o exame.
(It was necessary for us to study for the exam.)
