Imperfect subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive is used where the subjunctive is needed in the past or in hypothetical situations. Form: take the ellos preterite, drop -ron, add the endings.

Uses

• Subjunctive triggers in the past: Quería que vinieras. Me alegró que llamaras.
• Unreal conditions: Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría.
• como si (as if): Habla como si lo supiera todo.
• Polite wishes: Quisiera reservar una mesa.

The -se form

There is a second, equivalent form: hablase, tuviese, fuese. It’s more common in Spain and in writing. -ra and -se are interchangeable in these uses.

Examples

• Mi madre me pidió que la ayudara.My mother asked me to help her.
• No creía que fuera tan difícil.I didn’t think it would be so hard.
• Ojalá pudiera ir contigo.I wish I could go with you.
• Me miró como si no me conociera.She looked at me as if she didn’t know me.
• Esperaba que vinieras antes.I hoped you would come earlier.

Common mistakes

• ✗ Quería que vienes.✓ Quería que vinieras.A wish in the past takes the imperfect subjunctive. English “wanted you to come” uses an infinitive.
• ✗ Quería tú venir.✓ Quería que vinieras.Spanish does not allow pronoun + infinitive after querer. English “wanted you to come” has that shape.
• ✗ Si tendría tiempo, iría.✓ Si tuviera tiempo, iría.After si in an unreal condition use the imperfect subjunctive. English “If I had time” hides the mood.
• ✗ Si sería rico, viajaría.✓ Si fuera rico, viajaría.Conditional never follows si. English “If I were rich, I would travel” has a similar structure but a different form.
• ✗ Dudaba que viene.✓ Dudaba que viniera.Doubt in the past needs the imperfect subjunctive, not the present.