Pluperfect Subjunctive: amavissem
Perfect stem plus -issem, -isses, -isset, -issemus, -issetis, -issent.
How It Works
| amare | habere | ducere | esse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | amavissem | habuissem | duxissem | fuissem |
| you | amavisses | habuisses | duxisses | fuisses |
| he, she | amavisset | habuisset | duxisset | fuisset |
| we | amavissemus | habuissemus | duxissemus | fuissemus |
| you all | amavissetis | habuissetis | duxissetis | fuissetis |
| they | amavissent | habuissent | duxissent | fuissent |
Three jobs are common. In a reported question after a past main verb, it shows an earlier act. After cum it sets the scene: Cum venisset (when he had come). In a wish about the past, it follows utinam.
It is also the verb of a condition that was not true in the past: si venisset (if he had come).
Examples (5)
- Marcus rogavit quis haec fecisset.
Marcus asked who had done this.
Fecisset is the pluperfect subjunctive of facio. The act came before the past main verb rogavit.
- Nesciebamus ubi fuisset Iulia.
We did not know where Iulia had been.
Fuisset is fuisse plus -t. The main verb nesciebamus is in the past.
- Cum sacerdos orationem dixisset, omnes responderunt.
When the priest had said the prayer, everyone answered.
Cum with the pluperfect subjunctive sets the scene: the prayer was finished first.
- Utinam ne hoc dixissem!
If only I had not said this!
Utinam with the pluperfect subjunctive is a wish about the past that cannot come true.
- Rogavit sacerdos quis ecclesiam aperuisset.
The priest asked who had opened the church.
Aperuisset is the pluperfect subjunctive of aperio, and the opening happened before the question.
Common Mistakes
Using the imperfect subjunctive for an earlier act.
Marcus rogavit quis haec faceret.Marcus rogavit quis haec fecisset.Faceret is correct Latin for a different meaning: Marcus asked who was doing this. To say who had done it, use the pluperfect fecisset.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The pluperfect subjunctive is the perfect infinitive plus the endings.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Pluperfect Subjunctive: amavissem in Bubblegum
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