-asse/-asses/-asse/-ássemos/-ásseis/-assem
Imperfeito Do Subjuntivo -AR
The Imperfeito do Subjuntivo (Imperfect Subjunctive) for -AR verbs is used to talk about hypothetical situations ('If I spoke...') or to follow past-tense verbs of desire/request ('He asked that I speak').
How It Works
Despite its name, the Imperfeito do Subjuntivo is most commonly used to express hypothetical present or future situations that are contrary to reality.
1. Formation:
To conjugate -AR verbs, take the 3rd person plural of the Pretérito Perfeito (e.g., falaram), remove the -ram, and add the following endings:
- Eu: -asse (falasse)
- Tu: -asses (falasses)
- Ele/Ela/Você: -asse (falasse)
- Nós: -ássemos (falássemos) — Note the mandatory accent!
- Eles/Elas/Vocês: -assem (falassem)
2. Key Uses:
- Hypotheticals: Often paired with the Conditional in 'If' clauses. Example: Se eu ganhasse a loteria, eu viajaria. (If I won the lottery, I would travel).
- Past Triggers: When a main verb in the past expresses a wish, order, or doubt. Example: Eu queria que você ajudasse. (I wanted you to help).
- Comparison: Used after como se (as if). Example: Ele fala como se estudasse muito. (He talks as if he studied a lot).
Examples (4)
- Se eu falasse japonês, moraria em Tóquio.
If I spoke Japanese, I would live in Tokyo.
Word by Word: If I spoke Japanese, [I] would live in Tokyo.
A hypothetical 'if' clause using the imperfect subjunctive followed by the conditional.
- O meu chefe pediu que eu trabalhasse no sábado.
My boss asked that I work on Saturday.
Word by Word: The my boss asked that I worked on the Saturday.
The past trigger 'pediu' (asked) requires the imperfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
- Nós queríamos que eles chegassem cedo.
We wanted them to arrive early.
Word by Word: We wanted that they arrived early.
A past desire ('queríamos') triggers the subjunctive form 'chegassem'.
- Se nós comprássemos o carro hoje, não teríamos dinheiro.
If we bought the car today, we wouldn't have money.
Word by Word: If we bought the car today, not [we] would have money.
Note the acute accent on the 'nós' form (comprássemos).
Common Mistakes
Using the conditional in the 'if' clause.
Se eu ganharia na loteria, compraria uma casa.Se eu ganhasse na loteria, compraria uma casa.In Portuguese, the 'if' (se) clause must use the subjunctive, while the result clause uses the conditional.
Forgetting the accent on the 'nós' form.
Se nós falassemos agora...Se nós falássemos agora...The 'nós' form of the imperfect subjunctive always requires an acute accent on the thematic vowel.
Using the present subjunctive after a past trigger.
Eu queria que você fale comigo.Eu queria que você falasse comigo.This is a 'sequence of tenses' error. If the first verb is past (queria), the second must be imperfect subjunctive (falasse), not present (fale).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the Imperfeito do Subjuntivo for -AR verbs, you must first understand the Pretérito Perfeito (Preterite) because the subjunctive stem is formed by taking the third-person plural (e.g., 'falaram'), removing the '-ram' ending, and adding the '-sse' suffixes. Additionally, a basic understanding of the subjunctive mood from the Present Subjunctive will help you understand when to use this past tense form.
- -ei/-aste/-ou/-amos/-astes/-aramPretérito Perfeito -AR Verbs
The imperfect subjunctive stem is derived from the third-person plural of the Pretérito Perfeito (Preterite). Understanding the Preterite of -AR verbs is essential for identifying the base of this conjugation.
Level 2 - -e/-es/-e/-emos/-eis/-emPresente Do Subjuntivo -AR
Familiarity with the Present Subjunctive introduces the concept of mood and the use of 'que' or other triggers that necessitate subjunctive forms.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- -esse/-esses/-esse/-êssemos/-êsseis/-essemImperfeito Do Subjuntivo -ER
The equivalent conjugation pattern for -ER verbs in the imperfect subjunctive.
Level 4 - -isse/-isses/-isse/-íssemos/-ísseis/-issemImperfeito Do Subjuntivo -IR
The equivalent conjugation pattern for -IR verbs in the imperfect subjunctive.
Level 4 - se + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalCondição Irreal (Presente)
The standard sentence structure for expressing hypothetical present conditions.
Level 4 - como se + Imperfect SubjunctiveComo Se (As if)
A common construction used to make comparisons to unreal situations.
Level 4 - Sequence of Tenses (Past)
The grammatical rule explaining why a past main verb triggers the imperfect subjunctive.
Level 5 - tivesse/fizesse/pudesse/quisesse/soubesse/dissesseImperfeito Do Subjuntivo Irregular Comum
Irregular verbs that follow the same ending patterns but have different stems.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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