Ch 25 · Lesson 8Spanish · Chapter 25 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
The imperfect subjunctive: forms
The second set of endings (, ), the compulsory accent (), and the places the tense turns up: past wishes, reported commands, , , and .
The short version
exactly the same
, .
Why?Hide
The imperfect subjunctive has two sets of endings on the same stem: -ra (, ) and -se (, ). They mean the same thing. The -ra set is the everyday one everywhere; -se is commoner in Spain and in writing. Only -ra makes the polite .
The
.
Why?Hide
The stress stays on the same vowel in every person: , . In the longer form that vowel ends up third from the end, so it is written with an accent, in both sets: , , , . No other person takes one.
Two ending sets, both correct
Spanish has a second set of endings, in -. It goes on the same stem and means exactly the same:
| Person | -ra set | -se set |
|---|---|---|
| yo | | |
| | |
| , | | |
| | |
| | |
| |
, .- If I had time, I would go., .- If I had time, I would go.
| Set | Where you meet it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ra | everywhere, in speech and writing | . |
| - | Spain and writing; rare in Latin American speech | . |
Only -ra can stand in for the conditional, and only with a handful of verbs (, , , ). That is where the polite comes from, and nobody orders with :
, .- I would like a coffee, please.
The nosotros accent
The stress falls on the same vowel in every person: , . In the longer form that vowel ends up third from the end, so it takes a written accent, in both sets:
| Verb | -ra set | -se set |
|---|---|---|
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
.- If only we had more time..- He asked us to go with him.
No other person takes an accent: , , .
Where you will actually meet it
The forms are the easy part. These are the places the tense turns up, each with its own page:
| Use | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Past wish, request | . | We wanted you to come. |
| Reported command | . | He/She told me to wait. |
| Unreal clause | , . | If I were rich, I'd travel. |
| (as if) | . | He talks as if he were the boss. |
| about now | . | I wish you were here. |
| Polite request | , . | I'd like a coffee, please. |
The past trigger is the main one: a verb that takes the present subjunctive takes this tense once the trigger is in the past.
.- We want you to come..- We wanted you to come.
The commands are on reported questions and commands; the if-sentences are on si clauses.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| the form needs the accent | |
| teniera | | build from , not |
| sabiera | | build from |
| dijieran | | has no i |
| pediera | | the stem change comes from |
| . | . | polite requests use -ra only |
Going further: The imperfect subjunctive on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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