gustaríame que + Imperfect Subjunctive

Wishes About Others: Gustaríame Que

Level 4

To say politely what you would like someone else to do, use a conditional + que + imperfect subjunctive: Gustaríame que viñeses (I would like you to come).

How It Works

Compare the two versions

  • Quero que veñas (I want you to come): present + present subjunctive. Direct.
  • Gustaríame que viñeses (I would like you to come): conditional + imperfect subjunctive. Softer and more polite.

Common openers

  • gustaríame que: Gustaríame que me axudases (I would like you to help me).
  • preferiría que: Preferiría que non fumases (I would rather you did not smoke).
  • encantaríame que: Encantaríanos que quedásedes (we would love you all to stay).
  • sería mellor que, non me importaría que: Sería mellor que llo dixeses ti (it would be better if you told him).

Pronoun position

In a plain statement the pronoun follows the conditional: gustaríame, encantaríanos. It moves in front after a negative or another trigger: Non me gustaría que..., Tamén me gustaría que.... See pronouns after the verb.

Same person: infinitive

If the person who wishes and the person who acts are the same, there is no que clause: Gustaríame ir a Santiago, not que eu fose.

Related forms

The polite conditional on its own is covered in polite requests with the conditional. You may also hear the traditional Quixera que..., one of the fixed -ra uses (see the -ra and -se forms).

Examples (5)

  1. Gustaríame que viñeses á miña festa.

    I would like you to come to my party.

    Viñeses is the imperfect subjunctive of vir; the wish is about someone else.

  2. Preferiría que non fumases dentro da casa.

    I would rather you did not smoke inside the house.

    Preferiría que works like gustaríame que.

  3. Encantaríanos que quedásedes a cear.

    We would love you all to stay for dinner.

    Quedásedes is the vós form and carries a written accent.

  4. Sería mellor que llo dixeses ti.

    It would be better if you told him yourself.

    Llo combines lle and o; it goes before the verb because it follows que.

  5. Non me importaría que chegásemos un pouco tarde.

    I would not mind if we arrived a little late.

    After non, the pronoun me goes before importaría.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present subjunctive after a conditional.

    Gustaríame que veñas.
    Gustaríame que viñeses.

    A conditional main verb calls for the imperfect subjunctive.

  • Putting the pronoun first at the start of a statement, as in Spanish.

    Me gustaría que viñeses.
    Gustaríame que viñeses.

    In a Galician statement with nothing before the verb, the pronoun is attached after it.

  • Using que + subjunctive when you are the one who will act.

    Gustaríame que eu fose a Santiago.
    Gustaríame ir a Santiago.

    With the same person in both parts, use the infinitive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

gustaríame que + Imperfect SubjunctiveLevel 4Wishes About Others: Gustaríame Que

Learn This First

A conditional wish about another person introduces an imperfect subjunctive clause.

Words in This Pattern

gustar