What this form is for
The subjuntivo imperfecto goes in the subordinate clause when the main clause is in the past or the conditional and calls for a subjunctive. It also appears in unreal sentences (si, como si, ojalá).
English shows this only in were (if I were you), elsewhere a plain past tense does the job (as if he knew). Spanish has a full set of endings for every verb and person.
How the form is built
From the indefinido to the subjunctive
hablar and comer
| Person | hablar | comer |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hablara / hablase | comiera / comiese |
| tú | hablaras / hablases | comieras / comieses |
| él/ella/usted | hablara / hablase | comiera / comiese |
| nosotros/as | habláramos / hablásemos | comiéramos / comiésemos |
| vosotros/as | hablarais / hablaseis | comierais / comieseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablaran / hablasen | comieran / comiesen |
In each cell the -ra form / the -se form.
The nosotros form carries a written accent on the third-to-last syllable: habláramos, comiéramos. -ir verbs take the same forms as comer: vivir → viviera.
Irregular stems
Every irregularity of the indefinido is already built in. If you know the indefinido, you know these forms. The -se form uses the same stem: tuviese, pudiese.
From the indefinido to the subjunctive
| Infinitive | 3rd pl. indefinido | Subjuntivo imperfecto |
|---|---|---|
| tener | tuvieron | tuviera |
| poder | pudieron | pudiera |
| saber | supieron | supiera |
| hacer | hicieron | hiciera |
| venir | vinieron | viniera |
| querer | quisieron | quisiera |
| decir | dijeron | dijera |
| traer | trajeron | trajera |
| ser / ir | fueron | fuera |
| dar | dieron | diera |
| pedir | pidieron | pidiera |
| leer | leyeron | leyera |
third person plural (indefinido) → subjuntivo imperfecto (-ra form)
When to use it
The main clause sets the tense of the subordinate clause. When it is in a past tense or the conditional and the subordinate clause needs a subjunctive (wish, request, evaluation, doubt), you use the subjuntivo imperfecto, not the presente.
Me pidió que hablara más despacio.
He asked me to speak more slowly.
Main clause in the indefinido
Quería que vinieras a la fiesta.
I wanted you to come to the party.
Main clause in the imperfecto
Me gustaría que me ayudaras con esto.
I'd like you to help me with this.
Main clause in the condicional
The same form appears in unreal si clauses, after como si and after ojalá. The polite form quisiera is also a -ra form.
Do not mix it up with the future
hablara (subjunctive) and hablará (future) differ only in stress: second-to-last syllable against last syllable.
Minimal pairs (stress)
hablara
that he spoke (subjunctive)
hablará
he will speak (future)
cantara
that he sang (subjunctive)
cantará
he will sing (future)
