B2 · Subjunctive · Part 3 of 4
El imperfecto de subjuntivo
When the first clause moves into the past, the second one has to follow it. The imperfect subjunctive is where it goes, and it is far easier than it looks: one rule builds every verb in the language, irregulars included, because the irregularity is already baked into the stem you start from.
One rule, no exceptions
Take the ellos form of the indefinido, drop -ron, add the endings. Every irregular verb behaves, because the irregularity is already inside the stem.
| Infinitive | ellos (indefinido) | Imperfect subjunctive |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablaron | hablara / hablase |
| comer | comieron | comiera / comiese |
| tener | tuvieron | tuviera / tuviese |
| ir / ser | fueron | fuera / fuese |
| poder | pudieron | pudiera / pudiese |
| decir | dijeron | dijera / dijese |
The endings
Both are correct. The -ra form is far more common in speech, especially in Latin America; the -se form sounds more formal or literary.
| -ra form | -se form | |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hablara | hablase |
| tú | hablaras | hablases |
| él / ella | hablara | hablase |
| nosotros | habláramos | hablásemos |
| ellos | hablaran | hablasen |
Sequence of tenses
Present in the first clause pulls the present subjunctive. Past in the first clause pulls the imperfect subjunctive.
- Quiero que vengas.I want you to come.
- Quería que vinieras.I wanted you to come.
- Es raro que llegue tarde.It is odd that he is late.
- Era raro que llegara tarde.It was odd that he was late.
Politeness
Quisiera and pudiera soften a request. This is the most useful everyday use of the form.
- Quisiera un café, por favor.I would like a coffee, please.
- ¿Pudiera ayudarme?Could you help me?
Which ending to use
The -ra and -se forms mean exactly the same thing. In speech, and across Latin America, -ra dominates; -se sounds formal or literary and appears more in Spain and in writing. Only -ra can replace the pluperfect in journalism (el presidente que fuera elegido en 2019), which is another reason to default to it.
- Si tuviera tiempo…If I had time… · everyday
- Si tuviese tiempo…If I had time… · formal or written
Where it turns up besides conditions
- After a past trigger: quería que vinieras
- After como si, always: habla como si supiera todo
- Softened requests: quisiera, pudiera, debiera
- With ojalá for unlikely wishes: ojalá pudiera ir
Como si
Como si is never followed by the present. It compares reality with something imagined, so the verb after it is always the imperfect subjunctive, whatever tense the sentence started in.
- Habla como si fuera el jefe.He talks as if he were the boss.
- Se quedó ahí como si quisiera decir algo.She stood there as if she wanted to say something.
Mistakes to avoid
Quería que vengas.
Quería que vinieras.
A past first clause needs a past subjunctive.
Habla como si sabe todo.
Habla como si supiera todo.
Como si always takes the imperfect subjunctive.
Me pidió que le ayudo.
Me pidió que le ayudara.
Pedir que always takes the subjunctive, and the past pulls the imperfect form.
Try it
Quería que ___ conmigo.
Me pidió que le ___ la verdad.
___ un café, por favor.
Era importante que todos ___ presentes.
Habla como si ___ el jefe.