The Imperfect Subjunctive (Imperfecto de Subjuntivo) is used to express the same subjectivity as the Present Subjunctive (wishes, emotions, doubts, etc.) but in past contexts or in hypothetical situations.

When to Use the Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive

The Imperfect Subjunctive is mainly used in these situations:

1. Past WEIRDO Triggers

When the main clause verb (the WEIRDO trigger) is in a past tense (Imperfect, Preterite, Pluperfect, Conditional).

  • Quería que vinieras. (I wanted you to come.)
  • Fue importante que estudiaras. (It was important that you studied.)
  • Dudaba que fuera verdad. (I doubted it was true.)
  • Me alegró que llegaran. (I was happy that they arrived.)
  • Te recomendé que leyeras el libro. (I recommended that you read the book.)

2. Hypothetical “If” Clauses (Unlikely/Impossible)

In the “if” part of sentences describing situations contrary to fact in the present or unlikely in the future (Type 2 Conditionals).

  • Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría más. (If I had more money, I would travel more.)

  • Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría. (If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.)

  • Compraríamos una casa si pudiéramos. (We would buy a house if we could.)

3. Polite Suggestions/Requests

Often used with verbs like querer, poder, deber to make requests or suggestions sound softer or more hypothetical.

  • Quisiera un café, por favor. (I would like a coffee, please. - more polite than quiero)

  • ¿Pudieras ayudarme? (Could you possibly help me? - very polite/tentative)

  • Debieras hablar con él. (You probably should talk to him.)

4. After “Como Si” (As If)

The expression como si (as if / as though) always requires the Imperfect Subjunctive.

  • Habla como si supiera todo. (He talks as if he knew everything.)
  • Gastó dinero como si fuera rico. (He spent money as if he were rich.)

Imperfect Subjunctive Formation (-ra and -se Endings)

Forming the Imperfect Subjunctive is unique:

  1. Start with the ellos/ellas/ustedes form of the Preterite Indicative tense.
  2. Drop the -ron ending.
  3. Add either the -ra endings or the -se endings.

Both sets of endings are generally interchangeable! The -ra forms are more common in modern spoken Spanish, while -se forms might appear more in literature.

Imperfect Subjunctive Endings

-ra Endings

  • yo: -ra
  • tú: -ras
  • él/ella/usted: -ra
  • nosotros/as: -ramos (accent on vowel before!)
  • vosotros/as: -rais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes: -ran

¡Ojo! The nosotros form always has a written accent on the vowel immediately before the “-ramos” ending.

-se Endings

  • yo: -se
  • tú: -ses
  • él/ella/usted: -se
  • nosotros/as: -semos (accent on vowel before!)
  • vosotros/as: -seis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes: -sen

¡Ojo! The nosotros form always has a written accent on the vowel immediately before the “-semos” ending.

Conjugation Examples (using -ra endings)

Hablar (Preterite: hablaron → habla-)

  • hablara
  • hablaras
  • hablara
  • habláramos
  • hablarais
  • hablaran

Comer (Preterite: comieron → comie-)

  • comiera

  • comieras

  • comiera

  • comiéramos

  • comierais

  • comieran

Vivir (Preterite: vivieron → vivie-)

  • viviera
  • vivieras
  • viviera
  • viéramos
  • vivierais
  • vivieran

Irregular Verbs in Imperfect Subjunctive

Since the Imperfect Subjunctive is based on the Preterite ellos form, any irregularity in that Preterite form carries over.

  • Stem-Changing -IR Preterites: (e.g., pidieron, durmieron)
    • Pedir → pidiera, pidieras, pidiera, pidiéramos, pidierais, pidieran
    • Dormir → durmiera, durmieras, durmiera, durmiéramos, durmierais, durmieran
  • Preterite Spelling Changes (i→y): (e.g., leyeron, construyeron)
    • Leer → leyera, leyeras, leyera, leyéramos, leyerais, leyeran
    • Construir → construyera, construyeras… construyéramos…
  • Irregular Preterite Stems (U, I, J): (e.g., tuvieron, hicieron, dijeron)
    • Tener → tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera, tuviéramos, tuvierais, tuvieran
    • Hacer → hiciera, hicieras, hiciera, hiciéramos, hicierais, hicieran
    • Decir → dijera, dijeras, dijera, dijéramos, dijerais, dijeran
  • Ser / Ir (Preterite: fueron):
    • fuera, fueras, fuera, fuéramos, fuerais, fueran

Tener (tuvieron → tuvie-)

  • tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera, tuviéramos, tuvierais, tuvieran

Ser/Ir (fueron → fue-)

  • fuera, fueras, fuera, fuéramos, fuerais, fueran

Decir (dijeron → dije-)

  • dijera, dijeras, dijera, dijéramos, dijerais, dijeran

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using the Wrong Stem

Always start from the 3rd person plural (ellos) Preterite form, not the infinitive or present tense.

  • Incorrect: hablara (from hablar - wrong stem)

  • Correct: hablaron → habla- → hablara

  • Incorrect: tenera (from tener - wrong stem)

  • Correct: tuvieron → tuvie- → tuviera

2. Forgetting the Accent on Nosotros

The -ramos and -semos endings always require an accent on the preceding vowel.

  • Incorrect: hablaramos / hablasemos

  • Correct: habláramos / hablásemos

  • Incorrect: comieramos / comiesemos

  • Correct: comiéramos / comiésemos

3. Using Present Subjunctive for Past Triggers

If the main clause verb is in the past, the dependent clause usually needs the Imperfect Subjunctive.

  • Incorrect: El profesor quería que yo haga la tarea.

  • Correct: El profesor quería que yo hiciera la tarea.

4. Using Conditional in “If” Clauses

Hypothetical “if” clauses use Imperfect Subjunctive, not Conditional.

  • Incorrect: Si yo tendría tiempo, iría.

  • Correct: Si yo tuviera tiempo, iría.

Practice What You’ve Learned

Ready to test your knowledge of the Spanish imperfect subjunctive? Head over to our Practice page and select the imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) or imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) option to practice.

The practice tool will help you master using the subjunctive mood for hypothetical situations, expressing wishes, and contrary-to-fact conditions.