By Sarah Santana

The imperfect subjunctive refers to a past experience but can also refer to unlikely events or possibilities.

Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por todo el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel around the whole world.)

Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría. (If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.)

INFINITIVE 3rd Person Preterite Imperfect Subjunctive Stem

Caber cupieron cupie- pedir pidieron pidie- dar dieron die- poder pudieron pudie- decir dijeron dije- poner pusieron pusie- dormir durmieron durmie- preferir prefirieron prefirie- estar estuvieron estuvie- querer quisieron quisie- haber hubieron hubie- saber supieron supie- hacer hicieron hicie- sentir sintieron sintie- ir fueron fue- ser fueron fue- leer leyeron leye- traducir tradujeron traduje- tener tuvieron tuvie- traer trajeron traje-

1. The Independent Clause is in the Past If the WEIRDO verb (independent clause) is in the preterite or the imperfect, then the

subjunctive verb that follows will also be imperfect. Quise que vinieras/vinieses a mi fiesta. (I wanted you to come to my party.) Tenía miedo de que no lloviera/lloviese. (I was scared it wouldn't rain.)

2. The Independent Clause Refers to a Previous Occurrence

This is used to express current emotions, doubts, etc. about something that happened in the past.

Es bueno que (él) se casara/casase. (It's good that he got married.) No me parece que el viaje fuera/fuese largo. (It doesn't seem to me that the journey was

long.)

3. To Indicate Unlikely Events Use Ojalá or ojalá que to express the idea of hoping for something that is unlikely to happen

or is impossible. Ojalá que nevara/nevase en Panamá. (I wish to God it were snowing in Panama.) Ojalá mi hermano se casara/casase. (I wish my brother were getting married.)

4. If Clauses When introduced with si (if) the imperfect subjunctive can support an independent clause

which introduces a dependent conditional clause. These are usually situations that are not very likely.

Si yo fuera/fuese reina, viajaría por todo el mundo. (If I were queen, I would travel all over the world.)

Pintaría más seguido si tuviera/tuviese más tiempo. (I would paint more often if I had more time.)

5. Formal Request Using only the verbs deber, querer, or poder, you can use the imperfect subjunctive to make

a very polite suggestion or formal request. Quisiera dos semanas de vacación. (I would like two weeks of vacation.) ¿Pudiera ayudarnos? (Could you help us?)

W-wishes, wants, desiresE-emotions I-impersonal expression R-relationships D- doubt O- Ojala

Worksheet: http://www.musicalspanish.com/tutorial/imp-subjunctive-worksheet.htm

Worksheet: http://www.colby.edu/~bknelson/SLC/subj_past_forms.php

Practice Quiz: http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/practice/98

Now that you have had some practice try to write a creative conversation using the Imperfect Subjunctive. Get a partner and pretend they are a citizen of your country. Talk to them about the topics we've been researching and impress them with your new knowledge about their country! Catch up with them about how things are going for them and for yourself.