Ready to express hypothetical scenarios, wishes, and emotions about past events in Spanish? Uncover the power of the Imperfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo), a versatile tense that allows you to paint vivid pictures of “what ifs” and unrealized possibilities. For regular -er verbs, this tense follows a predictable pattern, making it a valuable tool for expressing nuanced thoughts and feelings.
What is the Imperfect Subjunctive?
Imagine a world of imagined pasts and unfulfilled desires. The Imperfect Subjunctive transports us to this realm, enabling us to articulate hypothetical situations, wishes, emotions, and polite requests related to past events. Its two equivalent forms, -ra and -se, offer flexibility and stylistic choices in your communication.
Conjugating Regular -er Verbs: A Simple Formula
Creating the Imperfect Subjunctive with regular -er verbs is straightforward. Follow these simple steps:
- Start with the Third-Person Plural Preterite: Begin with the “ellos/ellas” form of the preterite tense (e.g., comieron for “comer”).
- Remove “-ron”: Discard the “-ron” ending, leaving you with the stem (e.g., comie-).
- Add the Endings: Attach the corresponding endings for each subject pronoun:
| Subject Pronoun | -ra Ending | -se Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | -ra | -se |
| Tú | -ras | -ses |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -ra | -se |
| Nosotros | -ramos | -semos |
| Vosotros | -rais | -seis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | -ran | -sen |
Let’s see it in action with the verb “comer” (to eat):
- Yo comiera / comiese
- Tú comieras / comieses
- Él/Ella/Usted comiera / comiese
- Nosotros comiéramos / comiésemos
- Vosotros comierais / comieseis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comieran / comiesen
Practical Applications of the Imperfect Subjunctive
The Imperfect Subjunctive serves multiple purposes:
- Hypothetical Past Situations: Express what could have happened under different circumstances.
- “Si comiera/comiese más verduras, estaría más sano.” (If I ate more vegetables, I would be healthier.)
- Desires and Emotions about Past Events: Convey wishes or feelings about past occurrences.
- “Quería que aprendieras/aprendieses español.” (I wanted you to learn Spanish.)
- Polite Requests and Suggestions: Soften requests or recommendations related to past actions.
- “Me gustaría que me vendiera/vendiese su coche.” (I would like you to sell me your car.)
- Conjunctions and Reported Speech: Use it after certain conjunctions and in reported speech.
Navigating the Nuances
- Interchangeable Forms: The -ra and -se forms are generally interchangeable, but the -ra form is more common in spoken Spanish.
- Conditional Tense: Often paired with the Conditional tense to create hypothetical scenarios.
- Irregular Verbs: Some common -er verbs have irregular Imperfect Subjunctive forms (e.g., ser, ir, ver).
- Practice Makes Perfect: Regular practice will solidify your understanding and usage of this versatile tense.
By mastering the Imperfect Subjunctive with regular -er verbs, you’ll unlock a new level of expressive power in Spanish, enabling you to communicate nuanced thoughts and feelings with ease.
Synonyms:
- English: Regular -ER Verbs in Past Subjunctive, Subjunctive II, Imperfect Subjunctive Mood
- Spanish: Verbos Regulares en -ER en Pretérito Imperfecto De Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Imperfecto, Subjuntivo Pasado