Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive follows a verb in a past tense.
How It Works
| Person | parlar | finir | venir | èsser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ieu | parlèsse | finiguèsse | venguèsse | foguèsse |
| tu | parlèsses | finiguèsses | venguèsses | foguèsses |
| el, ela | parlèsse | finiguèsse | venguèsse | foguèsse |
| nosautres | parlèssem | finiguèssem | venguèssem | foguèssem |
| vosautres | parlèssetz | finiguèssetz | venguèssetz | foguèssetz |
| eles, elas | parlèsson | finiguèsson | venguèsson | foguèsson |
Match the tense of the main verb. A present main verb takes the present subjunctive (Vòli que venga). A past main verb or a conditional takes the imperfect subjunctive (Voliái que venguèsse, Volriái que venguèsse).
Every verb with an irregular simple past carries that stem into the imperfect subjunctive: aguèsse (aver), anèsse (anar), faguèsse (far), diguèsse (dire), poguèsse (poder), volguèsse (voler). In print you will also see a present subjunctive after a past verb, as in caliá que siá, but the imperfect is the usual match.
In the first person, print also has the ending -èssi (foguèssi, poguèssi). This course writes -èsse, the form of the Vèrbòc.
Examples (5)
- Voliái que venguèsse.
I wanted him to come.
Venguèsse: the imperfect subjunctive of venir, after the past voliái.
- Caliá que partiguèssem a sièis oras.
We had to leave at six.
Partiguèssem: the imperfect subjunctive of partir.
- Maria voliá que Joan l'ajudèsse.
Maria wanted Joan to help her.
Ajudèsse: -ar verbs take -èsse.
- Volriái que foguèssetz aicí deman.
I would like you to be here tomorrow.
Foguèssetz: the conditional also takes the imperfect subjunctive.
- Los pastres volián que ploguèsse.
The shepherds wanted it to rain.
Ploguèsse: the imperfect subjunctive of plòure.
Common Mistakes
Using the imperfect indicative after a past verb of will
Voliái que veniá.Voliái que venguèsse.Veniá is the imperfect indicative. After voler que, even in the past, the verb is in the subjunctive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The imperfect subjunctive is built on the stems of the simple past after a trigger, so voler que and the -ir and -guèri simple pasts come first.
- Subjunctive After voler que
Know voler que, because the imperfect subjunctive follows the same trigger in a past setting: Voliái que venguèsse.
Level 5 - Simple Past of -ir Verbs
Know the simple past of -ir verbs, because partiguèssem comes from partiguèri: Caliá que partiguèssem a sièis oras.
Level 4 - Simple Past in -guèri
Know the -guèri simple pasts, because venguèsse comes from venguèri: Maria voliá que Joan l'ajudèsse.
Level 4
Related Patterns
Practice Imperfect Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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