Apuntes - Imperfecto de SubjuntivoThe imperfect tense of the subjunctive mood is used to express the same subjectivity as the present subjunctive, but in the past. You form the imperfect subjunctive by taking the ellos/ellas/ustedes form of the preterit, removing the -ron and adding the following endings:Yo –ra Nosotros -’ramos

Tú –ras Vosotros -rais

Él –ra Ellos -ran

Ejemplos:hablar → hablaron

Yo hablara Nosotros habláramosTú hablaras Vosotros hablaraisÉl hablara Ellos hablaran

servir → sirvieron

Yo sirviera Nosotros sirviéramosTú sirvieras Vosotros sirvieraisÉl sirviera Ellos sirvieran

Práctica:llevar → llevaron

Imperfect subjunctive: yo llevara

decir → dijeron Imperfect subjunctive: yo dijera

educar → educaronImperfect subjunctive: yo educara

The imperfect subjunctive is used to express subjectivity in the past after the same verbs, impersonal expressions, and conjunctions as the present subjunctive.

For the imperfect subjunctive to be needed, the verb in the independent clause has to be in one of the following tenses/moods: preterit, imperfect, conditional, or pluperfect (past perfect).

Ejemplos:Quería que lo hicieras. I wanted you to do it.

↓ ↓ imperfect imperfect subjunctive

Fue una lástima que no pudiera ir. It was a shame that he couldn't go.

↓ ↓

preterit imperfect subjunctive

Yo iría al banco para que tuviéramos dinero. ↓ ↓ conditional imperfect subjunctive

I would go to the bank so that we'd have money.

Mi tía les recomendó que leyeran el libro. ↓ ↓

preterit imperfect subjunctive My aunt recommended that they read the

book.

Yo les habia dicho que no dejaran la basura allí.↓ ↓

past perfect imperfect subjunctive I had told them not to leave the trash

there.

Práctica:

1. Yo les recomendé que ustedes ______________ (estudiar) para el examen.

2. Les rogué a mis hermanas que ______________ (limpiar) la casa.

3. Mi mamá quería que ______________ (felicitar) a la graduanda.

4. Los invitados no querían que la fiesta ______________ (acabarse).

5. Mi padre quería que yo ______________ (ser) médico.

hablaran

limpiran

felicitara

se acabara

fuera

Tenses of the subjunctive

Independent Clause (Indicative)

Dependent Clause (Subjunctive)

PresentPresent PerfectFuture

Present

PresentPresent Perfect (if action

has taken place)

Preterit Imperfect

Conditional Past Perfect

Imperfect