Imperfect subjunctive · Spanish 1000

What the imperfect subjunctive is

The imperfect subjunctive expresses hypotheticals , polite wishes , and pairs with si in unreal conditions. Spain Spanish commonly uses -ra endings (also -se in formal writing).

Form: take the ellos preterite stem + -ra/-ras/-ra/-ramos/-rais/-ran .

How to form -ra endings

Person	hablar	comer	vivir
yo	hablara	comiera	viviera
tú	hablaras	comieras	vivieras
él/ella/Ud.	hablara	comiera	viviera
nosotros	habláramos	comiéramos	viviéramos
vosotros	hablarais	comierais	vivierais
ellos/Uds.	hablaran	comieran	vivieran

Quería que hablaras más despacio.I wanted you to speak more slowly.
Ojalá tuviera más tiempo.If only I had more time.
Dudaba que vinieran.I doubted they would come.
Esperaba que lo supierais.I hoped you all knew it.
Si fuera rico, viajaría.If I were rich, I would travel.
No creía que fuera tan difícil.I did not think it was so difficult.

When to use it — common triggers

After expressions of doubt , emotion , desire , or unreality when the main verb is past (or formal present):

querer que , esperar que , dudar que , ojalá , no creer que , es posible que (past context).

Quería que vinieras a la fiesta.I wanted you to come to the party.
Me alegró que lo consiguieras.I was glad you managed it.
No creía que fuera verdad.I did not believe it was true.
Temía que se perdieran.I was afraid they would get lost.
Pedí que me llamarais cuando llegarais.I asked you all to call me when you arrived.
Era importante que estuvierais allí.It was important that you all were there.

Si clauses — unreal present (si + imp. subj.)

Unreal present hypothesis:

Si + imperfect subjunctive, conditional in the main clause.

Si tuviera dinero, compraría un piso. = If I had money, I would buy a flat.

Si tuviera más tiempo, estudiaría más.If I had more time, I would study more.
Si fueras más puntual, no llegarías tarde.If you were more punctual, you would not arrive late.
Si pudierais, ¿vendríais con nosotros?If you could, would you come with us?
Si viviera en la playa, sería feliz.If I lived at the beach, I would be happy.
Si no lloviera, saldríamos.If it were not raining, we would go out.
¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería?What would you do if you won the lottery?

Common irregular imperfect subjunctives

Infinitive	ellos pret.	yo imp. subj.	Example
ser	fueron	fuera	Si fuera más fácil…
ir	fueron	fuera	Quería que fuera contigo.
tener	tuvieron	tuviera	Ojalá tuviera coche.
poder	pudieron	pudiera	Si pudiera, te ayudaría.
saber	supieron	supiera	Dudaba que lo supieras.
querer	quisieron	quisiera	Quisiera un café, por favor.

Quisiera hacer una pregunta.I would like to ask a question. (polite)
Si pudieras, ¿me ayudarías?If you could, would you help me?
Ojalá supiera la respuesta.If only I knew the answer.
No creía que fuera posible.I did not think it was possible.
Si tuvierais tiempo, os lo contaría.If you all had time, I would tell you.
Esperaba que quisieran venir.I hoped they would want to come.

Practice 1 — 10 questions

If I had money, I would buy a flat →

I wanted you to come →

If only I had more time →

yo form of hablar (imp. subj.) →

I would like to ask a question (polite) →

If you all could, would you come? →

I did not think it was true →

What would you do if you won the lottery? →

I hoped you all knew it →

If it were not raining, we would go out →