The imperfect subjunctive

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The Imperfect Subjunctive
(El imperfecto de subjuntivo)
El senador no permitió que hablaran los otros
senadores.
Qué pasó en el senado?
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How the imperfect subjunctive is formed
1. Start with the 3rd person plural (aron,
ieron) form of the verb in the preterit tense
hablaron
vendieron
escribieron
If you start with the 3rd person plural and you
know your preterit verbs, there are no irregular
forms, that is, there is no verb that does not
follow the rule.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is formed
1. Start with the 3rd person plural (aron,
ieron) form of the verb in the preterit tense
2. Drop the -ron ending.
ron
habla
vendie
escribie
ron
ron
3. Add the following endings for all three
conjugations
-ra
-ramos
-ras
-rais
-ra
-ran
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How the imperfect subjunctive is formed
Note that -er and -ir forms are identical.
Examples
hablar hablara hablaras hablara habláramos hablar
ais hablaran
escribir escribiera escribieras escribiera escribi
éramos escribierais escribieran
vender vendiera vendieras vendiera vendiéramos ven
dierais vendieran
Note also that first- and third-person singular
forms are the same,
and that all nosotros forms must carry a written
accent.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is formed
Notice these alternate forms
hablar hablase hablases hablase hablásemos hablas
eis hablasen
escribir escribiese escribieses escribiese escribi
ésemos escribieseis escribiesen
vender vendiese vendieses vendiese vendiésemos ven
dieseis vendiesen
Everything that applies to the -ra forms applies
also to the -se forms however, the latter are
more literary and are used more often in Spain
than elsewhere.
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The following chart shows the imperfect
subjunctive forms of some common regular and
irregular verbs.
Infinitive
Third-person plural
First-person singular
Preterit
Imperfect subjunctive
tomar
tomaron
tomara
beber
bebieron
bebiera
escribir
escribieron
escribiera
creer
creyeron
creyera
decir
dijeron
dijera
estuvieron
estuviera
estar
hubieron
haber
hubiera
fueron
ir
fuera
leer
leyeron
leyera
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The following chart shows the imperfect
subjunctive forms of some common regular and
irregular verbs.
Infinitive
Third-person plural
First-person singular
Preterit
Imperfect subjunctive
poder
pudieron
pudiera
poner
pusieron
pusiera
querer
quisieron
quisiera
saber
supieron
supiera
ser
fueron
fuera
tuvieron
tuviera
tener
trajeron
traer
trajera
vinieron
venir
viniera
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
The same principles that are applied in the
present to determine whether to use the
subjunctive or the indicative are also used in
the past.
If the main clause expresses . . .
1. Cause or prevention.
2. Personal bias or emotion.
3. Falseness or unreality.
. . . the subjunctive is used in the subordinate
clause.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
The past subjunctive is also always used after
the following phrases (and a few other similar
ones), just as with the present subjunctive.
E
en caso de que
(in case)
S
sin que
(without, unless)
con tal (de) que
(provided that)
C
antes (de) que
(before)
A
(so that, in order that)
P
para que
a menos que
A
(unless)
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
The tense of the verb in the main clause normally
determines whether to use the present or
imperfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
If the verb in the main clause is in the . . .
the present subjunctive is used in the
subordinate clause.
present,
future, or
present perfect
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
The tense of the verb in the main clause normally
determines whether to use the present or
imperfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
If the verb in the main clause is in the . . .
preterit,
the imperfect subjunctive is used in the
subordinate clause.
imperfect,
conditional, or
pluperfect
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
If the verb in the main clause is in the . . .
present,
The present subjunctive is used in the
subordinate clause.
future, or
present perfect
Examples
present
present
Insisto en que Tomás me ayude.
I insist that Tomás help me.
present
future
Insistiré en que Tomás me ayude.
I will insist that Tomás help me.
present
present
He insistido en que Tomás me ayude.
perfect
I have insisted that Tomás help me.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
If the verb in the main clause is in the . . .
preterit,
The imperfect subjunctive is used in the
subordinate clause.
imperfect,
conditional, or
pluperfect
Examples
imperfect
preterit
Insistí en que Tomás me ayudara.
I insisted that Tomás help me.
imperfect
imperfect
Insistía en que Tomás me ayudara.
I (always) insisted that Tomás help me.
imperfect
Insistiría en que Tomás me ayudara.
conditional
I would insist that Tomás help me.
imperfect
Había insistido en que Tomás me ayudara.
pluperfect
I had insisted that Tomás help me.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
More examples of the imperfect subjunctive
Notice that the use of the preterit or imperfect
in the main clause calls for the imperfect
subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
Era importante que leyera mi horóscopo.
It was important for me to read my horoscope.
La meteoróloga insistió en que todos se
refugiaran de la tempestad.
The meteorologist insisted that everyone take
cover from the storm.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
More examples of the imperfect subjunctive
Remember that a written accent is required on the
first-person plural of the imperfect subjunctive
forms.
El periodista quería que arregláramos la sala
para la entrevista.
The journalist wanted us to arrange the living
room for the interview.
Era dudoso que contratáramos a aquel comentarista.
It was doubtful that we would hire that
commentator.
El gobierno prohibió que pusiéramos esa
información en el artículo.
The government prohibited us from putting that
information in the article.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
The imperfect subjunctive is required under the
same conditions as the present subjunctive.
However, the imperfect subjunctive is used to
refer to events that were incomplete in relation
to a past event. Compare the sentences below to
the time line.
Present
Past
Future
dudar
controlar
pedir
haber
El reportero dudaba que controlaran el incendio.
The reporter doubted that they would control the
fire.
Los televidentes pidieron que hubiera más
programas serios.
The TV viewers asked for there to be more serious
shows.
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
Use the imperfect subjunctive with ojalá when it
means I wish (that).
Ojalá (que) el patrocinador seleccionara mi
guión!
I wish the sponsor would choose my script!
Ojalá (que) no cancelaran mi serie favorita!
I wish they wouldnt cancel my favorite series!
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How the imperfect subjunctive is used
Peticiones con el imperfecto de subjuntivo
A common use of the imperfect subjunctive is to
make polite requests or statements. In such
cases, the forms of the verbs querer, poder, and
deber are used. Note the following examples.
Quisiera leer los anuncios clasificados.
I would like to read the classified ads.
Pudieras prestarme la sección deportiva?
Could you lend me the sports section?
Debiéramos ir al concurso.
We should go to the game show.
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FIN