How do you use the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish?
When to use the Imperfect Subjunctive in Spanish
- Past and Present. The imperfect subjunctive is used when you are indicating an action in the past in the same situation where the subjunctive would be required in the present.
- Expressions of Desire/Wishes or Doubt.
- Que → That.
- Being Polite.
What is the rule for forming the imperfect subjunctive?
Imperfect Subjunctive Forms Instead of using the infinitive for a stem, the imperfect subjunctive uses the third person plural of the preterite (minus the -ron). Whatever the third person preterite from of a verb is, whether regular or irregular, becomes the base for the imperfect subjunctive stem.
What is a rule to use the imperfect in Spanish?
To form the imperfect tense of -ar verbs, take off the -ar ending and add the endings: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban. To form the imperfect tense of -er and -ir verbs, take off the -er and -ir endings and add the endings: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
How do you use imperfect subjunctive and conditional?
The imperfect subjunctive can refer to a present possibility when it follows a main clause in a conditional tense. Such sentences cannot be translated word for word into English and may require the use of “if” or “would”: Nos gustaría que hubiera más participación. (We would like it if there were more participation.
What is the difference between subjunctive and imperfect subjunctive?
Present subjunctive is translated to English in normal present tense, imperfect subjunctive is translated to English in past tense. With present subjunctive we talk about things that might still happen, but imperfect subjunctive expresses things that are not possible anymore.
What is imperfect tense example?
The imperfect tense is used to refer to actions in the past that occurred repeatedly. I used to walk every day. Yo caminaba cada día. The imperfect tense is also used to refer to actions in the past that occurred over an extended period of time.
Do you use subjunctive with if?
When si (meaning “if”) is followed by a verb, the verb is in the present indicative if the condition stated is true or probable. When si is followed by a verb, the verb is in a past subjunctive if the condition stated is false or improbable.
Why are there two forms of imperfect subjunctive in Spanish?
Why are there two forms of the imperfect subjunctive, such as hablara and hablase? Do they mean the same thing? The -se form might be considered the “traditional” form of the imperfect (or past) subjunctive, while the -ra comes from an old Latin indicative form.