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Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive (Imperfecto de Subjuntivo): Rules, Uses & Exercises

Learn how to use the Imperfecto de Subjuntivo: rules, conjugation patterns (-ra / -se forms), triggers, uses, irregular verbs, examples, and interactive practice exercises.

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Spanish Exercises. Your Questions Answered.

Explore the most common questions about our Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive Exercises and how Elayaa makes learning interactive, simple, and effective.

💡 What is the Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive?

The Imperfecto de Subjuntivo expresses past wishes, emotions, doubts, hypotheticals, unreal situations, conditionals, polite requests, and actions requiring the subjunctive in a past timeframe.

 

💡 How is the Imperfect Subjunctive formed?

-RA forms:
-ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran

-SE forms:
-se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sen

Examples:

  • hablara / hablase

  • comiera / comiese

  • viviera / viviese

 

💡 When is the Imperfect Subjunctive used in Spanish?

It is used for:

  • Past wishes or emotions
    "Quería que vinieras" (I wanted you to come)

  • Hypothetical or unreal situations
    "Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría" (If I had time, I would travel)

  • Polite requests
    "Quisiera hacer una reserva" (I would like to make a reservation)

  • After past-tense verbs that trigger the subjunctive
    "Me sorprendió que lo hicieran" (It surprised me that they did it)

  • Reported speech and dependent clauses in the past
    "Dijo que no fuera" (She/He told me not to go) 

 

💡 Are there irregular forms in the Imperfect Subjunctive?

Irregularity comes from the preterite stem.
Common irregular bases include:

tuve → tuviera
dije → dijera
puse → pusiera
hice → hiciera
supe → supiera
hubo → hubiera
fui → fuera
quise → quisiera
vine → viniera

 

💡 Is the -RA or -SE form more common?

Both are correct, but -ra forms are overwhelmingly more common in modern Spanish.

 

💡 Does the Imperfect Subjunctive require “que”?

Often yes, especially with two different subjects and verbs of emotion, influence, or doubt.

 

💡 What triggers the Imperfect Subjunctive?

Main triggers:

  • WEIRDO categories in the past (Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt, Ojalá)

  • If-clauses (si + imperfecto de subjuntivo)

  • Past influence, doubt, emotion

  • Politeness formulas (quisiera, pudiera, debiera)

  • Subjunctive after past-tense main verbs

 

💡 Is the Imperfect Subjunctive used in everyday Spanish?

Yes, especially in conditional structures (si tuviera…) and polite expressions (quisiera…).

 

💡 What are examples of the Imperfect Subjunctive?

  • "Si fuera posible, iría contigo" (If it was possible, I would come with you)

  • "Quisiera pedir ayuda" (I would like to ask for help)

  • "Dudaba que lo hicieran" (I doubted they would do it)

 

💡 Is the Imperfect Subjunctive important for fluency?

Absolutely, it is essential for hypotheticals, conditions, politeness, and natural expression in Spanish.

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