- Understand when to use the imperfect subjunctive mood
- Form both the -ra and -se endings correctly
- Use imperfect subjunctive in si clauses (if clauses)
- Express hypothetical situations and polite requests
- Navigate the relationship between past indicative and imperfect subjunctive
The rule at a glance
ellos preterite: -ron → -ra
hablaron → hablara · tuvieron → tuviera · fueron → fuera · -se also works: hablase, tuviese
Si clauses
si tuviera..., + conditional
if I had..., I would...
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por todo el mundo.
If I had money, I would travel all over the world.
Past trigger + que
quería que vinieras
I wanted you to come
Mis padres querían que estudiara Medicina.
My parents wanted me to study medicine.
As if
como si fuera
as if he were
Gasta dinero como si fuera rico.
He spends money as if he were rich.
Polite requests
quisiera
I would like
Quisiera reservar una mesa para dos.
I'd like to book a table for two.
- Real or imagined? A real possibility keeps the present indicative: Si llueve, me quedo en casa. An unlikely or unreal one takes the imperfect subjunctive: Si lloviera, me quedaría en casa.
- Nosotros takes an accent: habláramos, tuviéramos, fuéramos.
What You'll Learn
Overview
The imperfect subjunctive (also called past subjunctive) is used to express actions or states that are hypothetical, doubtful, or contrary to reality (in the present or future), and after past-tense triggers. It's one of the most important verb forms for intermediate and advanced Spanish learners.
Key Uses of Imperfect Subjunctive
Si Clauses (If clauses)
Si tuviera dinero...
If I had money...
Past WEIRDO Triggers
Quería que vinieras
I wanted you to come
"Como si" (As if)
Como si fuera rico
As if he were rich
Polite Requests
Quisiera un café
I would like a coffee
Important: Two Forms Exist!
The imperfect subjunctive has TWO forms that are interchangeable in most contexts:
- -ra form: hablara, comiera, viviera (more common in spoken Spanish, used everywhere)
- -se form: hablase, comiese, viviese (more common in literary and formal writing, especially in Spain)
In this guide, we'll focus on the -ra form as it's more widely used in everyday speech.
Structure & Formation
Formation Steps
- Start with the 3rd person plural (ellos) preterite form (e.g., hablaron, comieron, vivieron)
- Drop the -ron ending (e.g., habla-, comie-, vivie-)
- Add the imperfect subjunctive endings
Imperfect Subjunctive Endings
| Person | -ra ending | -se ending |
|---|---|---|
| yo | -ra | -se |
| tú | -ras | -ses |
| él/ella/usted | -ra | -se |
| nosotros | -´ramos | -´semos |
| vosotros | -rais | -seis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | -ran | -sen |
The ´ shows where the written accent goes: habláramos, comiéramos, viviéramos
Regular Verbs Examples
Hablar (to speak)
| yo | hablara |
| tú | hablaras |
| él/ella | hablara |
| nosotros | habláramos |
| vosotros | hablarais |
| ellos | hablaran |
Comer (to eat)
| yo | comiera |
| tú | comieras |
| él/ella | comiera |
| nosotros | comiéramos |
| vosotros | comierais |
| ellos | comieran |
Vivir (to live)
| yo | viviera |
| tú | vivieras |
| él/ella | viviera |
| nosotros | viviéramos |
| vosotros | vivierais |
| ellos | vivieran |
Common Irregular Verbs
Any verb with an irregular preterite will have the same irregularity in the imperfect subjunctive:
Ser/Ir (to be/to go)
| yo | fuera |
| tú | fueras |
| él/ella | fuera |
| nosotros | fuéramos |
| vosotros | fuerais |
| ellos | fueran |
Tener (to have)
| yo | tuviera |
| tú | tuvieras |
| él/ella | tuviera |
| nosotros | tuviéramos |
| vosotros | tuvierais |
| ellos | tuvieran |
Estar (to be)
| yo | estuviera |
| tú | estuvieras |
| él/ella | estuviera |
| nosotros | estuviéramos |
| vosotros | estuvierais |
| ellos | estuvieran |
Hacer (to do/make)
| yo | hiciera |
| tú | hicieras |
| él/ella | hiciera |
| nosotros | hiciéramos |
| vosotros | hicierais |
| ellos | hicieran |
Poder (can/to be able)
| yo | pudiera |
| tú | pudieras |
| él/ella | pudiera |
| nosotros | pudiéramos |
| vosotros | pudierais |
| ellos | pudieran |
Poner (to put)
| yo | pusiera |
| tú | pusieras |
| él/ella | pusiera |
| nosotros | pusiéramos |
| vosotros | pusierais |
| ellos | pusieran |
Memory Tip
If you know the preterite, you know the imperfect subjunctive!
Just take the ellos form of preterite, drop -ron, and add the endings.
- tuvieron → tuvie- → tuviera, tuvieras...
- dijeron → dije- → dijera, dijeras...
- fueron → fue- → fuera, fueras...
Examples
Si Clauses (Hypotheticals)
Formula: Si + imperfect subjunctive, conditional
Hypothetical
Si tuviera dinero, compraría una casa
If I had money, I would buy a house
Contrary to fact
Si fuera rico, viajaría por el mundo
If I were rich, I would travel the world
Uncertain
Si pudieras venir, sería fantástico
If you could come, it would be fantastic
Hypothetical
Si hiciera buen tiempo, iríamos a la playa
If the weather were good, we would go to the beach
Como Si (As If)
Always requires imperfect subjunctive
Knowledge
Habla como si supiera todo
He speaks as if he knew everything
Behaviour
Gasta dinero como si fuera rico
He spends money as if he were rich
Recognition
Me mira como si no me conociera
He looks at me as if he didn't know me
Past WEIRDO Triggers
When main clause is past tense
Wish
Quería que vinieras
I wanted you to come
Emotion
Me alegró que llegaras
I was glad that you arrived
Impersonal
Era necesario que estudiaras
It was necessary that you study
Doubt
Dudaba que fuera verdad
I doubted that it was true
Polite Requests
More polite than quiero/puedo
Request
Quisiera un café, por favor
I would like a coffee, please
Request
Si pudiera ayudarme, se lo agradecería
If you could help me, I would be grateful
Request
Quisiera reservar una mesa
I would like to reserve a table
Common Mistakes
Most Common Imperfect Subjunctive Mistakes
Wrong: Si tenga dinero, compraría...
Correct: Si tuviera dinero, compraría...
Hypothetical si clauses need imperfect subjunctive, not present subjunctive
Wrong: Si llueva mañana, llevaré...
Correct: Si llueve mañana, llevaré...
Real/possible conditions use indicative, not subjunctive
Wrong: Como si es rico
Correct: Como si fuera rico
"Como si" always takes the subjunctive (imperfect or pluperfect), never the indicative
Wrong: hablaramos, comieramos
Correct: habláramos, comiéramos
Nosotros form always needs accent on vowel before -ramos/-semos
Wrong Stem Formation
NEVER form from infinitive: tenera, ponera, hacera
Always use preterite ellos stem:
tuvieron → tuvie-ra, pusieron → pusie-ra, hicieron → hicie-ra
Don't Mix -ra and -se Forms
Wrong (mixed):
hablara, hablases, hablara...
Correct (consistent):
hablara, hablaras, hablara, habláramos...
Both forms are correct, but stick with one throughout a sentence or conjugation
Quick Test
Test your mastery of imperfect subjunctive in si clauses, past triggers, and polite requests:
1. Si yo _____ (tener) dinero, compraría una casa nueva.
Atengo
Btenga
Ctuviera
Dtendría
2. Quería que tú _____ (venir) a la fiesta anoche.
Avienes
Bvengas
Cvinieras
Dvendrás
3. Habla como si _____ (saber) todo sobre el tema.
Asabe
Bsepa
Csupiera
Dsabría
4. Era importante que nosotros _____ (estar) allí a tiempo.
Aestamos
Bestemos
Cestuviéramos
Destaríamos
5. Si _____ (poder-yo) ayudarte, lo haría con gusto.
Apuedo
Bpueda
Cpudiera
Dpodré
6. Si _____ (hacer) buen tiempo, iríamos a la playa.
Ahace
Bhaga
Chiciera
Dharía
7. Dudaba que ellos _____ (poder) terminar a tiempo.
Apueden
Bpuedan
Cpudieran
Dpodrían
8. _____ (Querer-yo) reservar una mesa para dos personas. (polite)
AQuiero
BQuiera
CQuisiera
DQuerré
Want more practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises with progressive lessons covering WEIRDO triggers, regular and irregular verbs!