The imperfect subjunctive is used under the same circumstances as the present subjunctive, except the situation is referring to the past. Remember the subjunctive is a mood used to express a wish, hope, uncertainty or other attitudes toward a fact or idea.
You’ll love conjugating the imperfect subjunctive, because the conjugations are formed by dropping –ron from the 3rd person plural form of the preterit. PLUS the endings are the SAME for the –ar, -er, and the –ir verbs.
2 forms:
• The –ra form is used in Spain and Latin America
• The –se form is used primarily in Spain and more common in written language
cantaron, comieron, escribieron … -ron … canta, comie, escribie
Yo … -ra … cantara, comiera, escribiera
Tú … -ras … cantaras, comieras, escribieras
Ud./él/ella … -ra … cantara, comiera, escribiera
Nosotros … - ramos … cantáramos, comiéramos, escribiéramos
Vosotros … -rais … cantarais, comierais, escribierais
Uds./ellos/ellas … -ran … cantaran, comieran, escribieran
cantaron … -ron … canta
Yo … -se … cantase
Tú … -ses … cantases
Ud./él/ella … -se … cantase
Nosotros … - semos … cantásemos
Vosotros … -seis … cantaseis
Uds./ellos/ellas … -sen … cantasen
Uses of the imperfect subjunctive…
• Used after ojalá to express your wishes about the future
Ojalá que no tuviéramos huracanes este año.
I hope (I wish) that we would not have any hurricanes this year.
• Used after como si (as if) to indicate a statement contrary to the fact.
Juan habla como si fuera el presidente.
Juan talks as if he were the president.
• Used after quién to express a personal wish in an impersonal way.
¡Quién supiera cantar!
I wish I could sing!
• Used when the verb in the main clause is in the past and requires the subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
Ana afirmó que cuando se casara lo haría con un hombre que fuera inteligente y que tuviera interés en las artes. (Ana todavía esta esperando.)
Ana affirmed that if she got married, she would marry an intelligent man with interest in the Arts. (Ana is still waiting.)
• Used in an “if clause” when it refers to something considered hypothetical, contrary to fact or unlikely to happen. The verb in the main clause is in the present conditional
Si me avisaras con tiempo iría a verte.
If you told me ahead of time, I would come to see you.
• Used with the verbs poder and querer to soften a request and used with deber to soften a statement of obligation or advice.
Quisiera otra copa de vino, por favor.
I would like another class of wine, please.
Quizás pudieras ayudarme con la tarea.
Maybe you could help me with the homework.
Debiéramos guardar silencio en clase.
We should be quiet in class.
