7. IMPERFECTO DE SUBJUNTIVO
(Imperfect Subjunctive)
-ar verbs
– ra – ramos
– ras
–rais
– ra
– ran
-er verbs
– ra – ramos
– ras
–rais
– ra
– ran
-ir verbs
– ra – ramos
– ras
–rais
– ra
– ran
For all verbs, drop the –ron ending of the 3rd person plural of the preterit and add the above
endings. You also may see the following endings: -se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sen.
You also need to add an accent to the nosotros form on the vowel before the –ramos ending. For
example, habláramos, comiéramos, and viviéramos.
The irregulars in this tense are the same as those that are irregular in the preterit.
The imperfect subjunctive is used the same as the present subjunctive, but is used when the
action was done in the past. So, if the main clause is in the imperfect indicative, preterit, or
conditional and requires the subjunctive, this is the tense you would use.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Quería que escucharan bien.
Prefería que David lo hiciera.
Dudaba que Isabel viniera.
Me alegraba de que fueras a Harvard.
I wanted you all to listen well.
I preferred that David do it.
I doubted that Isabel was coming.
I was glad (happy) that you were going to
Harvard.
Esperaba que Isabel viniera.
I hoped that Isabel was coming (would
come).
Era triste que Isabel no viniera
It was sad that Isabel was not coming (did
not come).
Era necesario que Raquel lo hiciera.
It was necessary for Raquel to do it (that
Raquel do it).
Busqué un libro que fuera interesante. I looked for a book that was interesting.
¿Había alguien allí que tocara el piano? Was there anyone there who played the
piano?
The imperfect subjunctive is used after como si to express a condition contrary to fact.
1. Habla como si supiera todo.
He talks as if he knew it all.
2. Me habla como si fuera un niño.
He speaks to me as if I were a child.
Also note that quisiera (the imperfect subjunctive of querer) can be used to express politely a
wish or a desire .
1. Quisiera una limonada.
I would (should) like a lemonade.
The imperfect subjunctive can follow si when si means if.
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