Sequence of Tenses in the Subjunctive

Level 4

Choose the subordinate subjunctive tense from its time relationship to the main clause.

How It Works

A present request commonly takes present subjunctive: vull que vinguis. A request viewed from the past commonly takes imperfect subjunctive: volia que vinguessis. The subordinate action may still follow the request; imperfect subjunctive does not itself mean the requested action already happened.

For an event completed before a present evaluation, use perfect subjunctive: celebro que hagis vingut. Before a past evaluation, use pluperfect subjunctive: celebrava que haguessis vingut.

This is a relationship between viewpoints, not an automatic instruction to replace every present form after any past verb. A speaker can preserve a current or future frame when the meaning requires it. Establish the intended time before selecting the form.

Examples (3)

  1. Vull que vinguis demà.

    I want you to come tomorrow.

  2. Volia que vinguessis aquell dia.

    I wanted you to come that day.

  3. Em va alegrar que haguessis vingut.

    I was glad that you had come.

How It Connects

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Sequence of Tenses in the SubjunctiveLevel 4

Learn This First

Recognize subjunctive forms and nonasserted content before extending the mood to new clauses. Build a wish or request with subjunctive before adjusting its tense or idiom. Locate an event before a past viewpoint before selecting an advanced compound tense.

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Patterns that build on this one.