SubjunctiveB2

Imperfect subjunctive

Past subjunctive: after past triggers, in unreal if-clauses (Si...), and for polite wishes.

Usage

Past subjunctive: after past triggers, in unreal if-clauses (Si...), and for polite wishes.

Formation

Regular endings

	-ar	-er	-ir
yo (I)	-ara	-iera	-iera
tú (you)	-aras	-ieras	-ieras
él/ella (he/she)	-ara	-iera	-iera
nosotros (we)	-áramos	-iéramos	-iéramos
vosotros (you, pl.)	-arais	-ierais	-ierais
ellos/ellas (they)	-aran	-ieran	-ieran

Rules

5

1Built from the stem

Take the ellos preterite stem and add -ara or -iera endings.

hablar > hablara — to speak > spoke (subj.)-ar verbs: -ara
tener > tuviera — to have > had (subj.)stem from tuvieron
comer > comiera — to eat > ate (subj.)-er/-ir verbs: -iera

2Unreal if-clauses (Si...)

After si it marks an unlikely or impossible present condition.

Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría más. — If I had time, I'd travel more.
Si fuera rico, no trabajaría. — If I were rich, I wouldn't work.fuera = ser/ir

3After past triggers

When the main clause is past, the subordinate clause takes this form.

Quería que vinieras. — I wanted you to come.wish in the past
Esperaba que durmieras bien. — I hoped you'd sleep well.

4Polite wishes

Quisiera makes a request or wish sound especially polite and soft.

Quisiera un café, por favor. — I'd like a coffee, please.softer than quiero

5-ra is standard

There are two endings (-ra and -se); the -ra form is the everyday standard.

Ojalá pudiera ayudarte. — I wish I could help you.-ra form, fully normal

Examples

Si estuviera aquí, te lo diría. — If he were here, I'd tell you.
Me pidió que hablara más despacio. — He asked me to speak more slowly.
No había nadie que hiciera el trabajo. — There was nobody who did the work.
Si comieras menos, dormirías mejor. — If you ate less, you'd sleep better.

Conjugate

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Test

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