The Past (Imperfect) Subjunctive

Past Subjunctive A.k.a. the Imperfect subjunctive, it has many uses, which we will explore later

Past Subjunctive ra ramos ras ran The past subjunctive is formed by starting with the 3rd person plural (ellos/ellas/uds) form of the Preterite tense, dropping the –ron ending, and adding the following: ra ramos ras ran

hablara habláramos hablaras hablaran

COMER comiera comiéramos comieras comieran

viviera viviéramos vivieras vivieran

In Spain and other parts of the Spanish-speaking world, there is an alternate set of past subjunctive endings. These endings also exist in literary selections. -se -semos -ses -sen

HABLAR hablase hablásemos hablases hablasen

COMER comiese comiésemos comieses comiesen

VIVIR viviese viviésemos vivieses viviesen

Uses of the Past Subjunctive The Past Subjunctive is require in UWEIRDO situations, just like the Present Subjunctive, except that the verb in the main clause is in the past (preterite, imperfect, perfect tenses) and the verb in the subordinate clause is in the past subjunctive.

Ejemplos: Presente Pasado Temo que llueva. Temía que lloviera. Dudan que ella venga. Dudaban que ella viniera. Recomiendo que haga la tarea. Recomendó que hicieras la tarea.

The past subjunctive can be used to make polite requests (often with QUERER and PODER): ¿Pudiera cerrar la ventana, por favor? Quisiera un helado de chocolate, por favor. ¿Quisieras algo más?

The expression “como si” The past subjunctive is always used after the expression, “como si” (as if): Me saludó como si él no me conociera. Los Smith me tartan como si fuera su hija.