A past request or an unlikely condition can call for the imperfect subjunctive.
The idea
Take the third-person plural preterite, remove -ron, and add -ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran or -se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sen. In the nosotros form, accent the vowel before the ending: habláramos / hablásemos.
Examples
- La guía quería que habláramos más despacio.The guide wanted us to speak more slowly.
- Era importante que comieran antes del viaje.It was important that they eat before the trip.
- La médica pidió que durmiese más.The doctor asked me to sleep more.
- Ojalá tuviéramos un jardín comunitario.If only we had a community garden.
- Si vinieras temprano, prepararíamos la sala.If you came early, we would prepare the room.
- Buscaban a alguien que supiera reparar bicicletas.They were looking for someone who knew how to repair bicycles.
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Watch out
Do not build the stem from the infinitive: tuvieron gives tuviera, not teniera. The two ending series are generally interchangeable.
Try it yourself
Complete with the imperfect subjunctive; give both forms. La profesora quería que yo ___ la carta. (escribir)
Show answer or example answer
escribiera / escribiese
Escribiera / escribiese matches the singular subject and comes from escribieron.
Complete with the imperfect subjunctive; give both forms. Nos sorprendió que ellos ___ la respuesta. (saber)
Show answer or example answer
supieran / supiesen
Supieran / supiesen takes the plural ending and keeps the irregular stem of supieron.
Complete with the imperfect subjunctive; give both forms. Era necesario que nosotros ___ a tiempo. (salir)
Show answer or example answer
saliéramos / saliésemos
Saliéramos / saliésemos matches nosotros and needs an accent on the preceding vowel.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Spanish sentences where available. We keep your score.
Complete with the imperfect subjunctive; give both forms. La profesora quería que yo ___ la carta. (escribir)
Complete with the imperfect subjunctive; give both forms. Nos sorprendió que ellos ___ la respuesta. (saber)
Complete with the imperfect subjunctive; give both forms. Era necesario que nosotros ___ a tiempo. (salir)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Complete each new sentence with both possible forms; pay attention to the subject and accent.