Imperfect subjunctive
Full -és/-ís patterns, past triggers, unreal si clauses, and irregular stems.
The imperfect subjunctive handles past-triggered and unreal clauses
Use it when a past main verb requires subjunctive—Volia que vinguessis—and in unreal or unlikely si clauses—Si tingués temps.... Despite its name, it does not always refer to past time; in a hypothetical it marks distance from reality.
Regular formation
| Person | -ar: parlar | -re: perdre | -ir: dormir |
|---|---|---|---|
| jo | parlés | perdés | dormís |
| tu | parlessis | perdessis | dormissis |
| ell/ella | parlés | perdés | dormís |
| nosaltres | parléssim | perdéssim | dormíssim |
| vosaltres | parléssiu | perdéssiu | dormíssiu |
| ells/elles | parlessin | perdessin | dormissin |
The characteristic vowels are -és- for most -ar/-er/-re verbs and -ís- for many -ir verbs. Spelling changes preserve sound.
Essential irregular stems
| Infinitive | Imperfect subjunctive base | Useful form |
|---|---|---|
| ser | fos- | fos / fossis |
| fer | fes- | fes / fessis |
| venir | vingués- | vingués / vinguessis |
| tenir | tingués- | tingués / tinguessis |
| poder | pogués- | pogués / poguessis |
| saber | sabés- | sabés / sabessis |
| dir | digués- | digués / diguessis |
| anar | anés- | anés / anessis |
| estar | estigués- | estigués / estiguessis |
Sequence after a past main clause
A present trigger selects present subjunctive—Vull que vinguis—while a past trigger usually shifts to imperfect subjunctive—Volia que vinguessis. The subordinate action may be simultaneous or later relative to that past desire.
Unreal si clauses
Use imperfect subjunctive in the condition and conditional in the result: Si sabés la resposta, te la diria. For a past counterfactual, use pluperfect subjunctive and conditional perfect: Si ho hagués sabut, hauria vingut.
Examples in context
Volia que vinguessis una mica abans.
I wanted you to come a little earlier.
Ens van demanar que portéssim una còpia.
They asked us to bring a copy.
No creia que fos tan lluny.
I didn’t think it was so far away.
Em va sorprendre que ho sabessis.
I was surprised that you knew it.
Si tingués cotxe, aniria més sovint a la muntanya.
If I had a car, I would go to the mountains more often.
Si poguéssim triar, preferiríem quedar-nos aquí.
If we could choose, we would prefer to stay here.
Parlava com si conegués tothom.
He spoke as if he knew everyone.
Buscaven algú que tingués experiència internacional.
They were looking for someone who had international experience.
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