tuviera/hiciera/pudiera/pusiera/quisiera/supiera/dijera/viniera
Common Imperfect Subjunctive Irregulars
Many common verbs have irregular stems in the imperfect subjunctive. This isn't random; these stems come directly from their irregular preterite forms, following a consistent rule.
How It Works
The rule for forming the imperfect subjunctive is the same for all verbs in Spanish, both regular and irregular. The stem is always derived from the third-person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes) form of the preterite. The verbs in this lesson are considered 'irregular' in the imperfect subjunctive simply because their preterite forms are irregular.
The process is simple:
1. Take the third-person plural preterite form of the verb.
2. Drop the final -ron ending.
3. Add the imperfect subjunctive endings (-ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran); add a written accent to the vowel before -ramos, as in tuviéramos.
Let's see it with tener:
1. Preterite: tuvieron
2. Stem: tuvie-
3. Imperfect Subjunctive: tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera...
Here are some of the most important verbs that follow this pattern:
- Tener (to have) → tuvieron → tuviera
- Hacer (to do/make) → hicieron → hiciera
- Poder (to be able to) → pudieron → pudiera
- Poner (to put) → pusieron → pusiera
- Querer (to want) → quisieron → quisiera
- Saber (to know) → supieron → supiera
- Decir (to say) → dijeron → dijera
- Venir (to come) → vinieron → viniera
- Estar (to be) → estuvieron → estuviera
- Traer (to bring) → trajeron → trajera
This rule is consistent for all verbs with irregular preterite stems. If you know the irregular preterite, you know the imperfect subjunctive. These forms are essential for creating hypothetical sentences with si clauses and for polite requests with quisiera.
Complete Tener Pattern
Yo tuviera; tú/vos tuvieras; él/ella/usted tuviera; nosotros/nosotras tuviéramos; vosotros/vosotras tuvierais; ellos/ellas/ustedes tuvieran. The alternative -se series is tuviese, tuvieses, tuviese, tuviésemos, tuvieseis, tuviesen.
Do Not Add the Same Segment Twice
Removing -ron leaves tuvie-, so add -ra to get tuviera. Alternatively, analyze tuv- + -iera. These are different ways of splitting the same form; do not combine tuvie- with -iera. Dijeron gives dije- + -ra → dijera, without an extra i after j.
Meaning Depends on the Construction
These forms occur in past requests and reactions, and in hypothetical present or future conditions. A past emotion can concern a real event: Me sorprendió que vinieras does not deny the visit. Quisiera also softens a present request; it does not necessarily refer to a past wish.
Examples (6)
- Si yo tuviera más dinero, compraría un coche nuevo.
If I had more money, I would buy a new car.
Word by Word: If I had more money, I would buy a car new.
- Quisiera reservar una mesa para dos, por favor.
I would like to reserve a table for two, please.
'Quisiera' is a very common and polite way to say 'I would like'.
- El profesor me pidió que hiciera la tarea otra vez.
The teacher asked me to do the homework again.
Word by Word: The teacher me asked that I did the homework another time.
- No creía que él supiera la respuesta.
I didn't think that he knew the answer.
Word by Word: Not I believed that he knew the answer.
- Dudaba que pudieran terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
I doubted that they could finish the project on time.
Word by Word: I doubted that they could finish the project on time.
- Me sorprendió que vinieras a la fiesta.
It surprised me that you came to the party.
Word by Word: Me it surprised that you came to the party.
Common Mistakes
Forming the stem from the infinitive instead of the preterite.
Si yo *podiera* ir, te llamaría.Si yo pudiera ir, te llamaría.The stem for 'poder' in the imperfect subjunctive is not 'pod-', but 'pudie-'. It comes from the third-person plural preterite 'pudieron'.
Forgetting the 'j' in stems from verbs like 'decir' and 'traer'.
Me pidió que le *deciera* la verdad.Me pidió que le dijera la verdad.Verbs like 'decir' and 'traer' have a 'j' in their preterite stem ('dijeron', 'trajeron'). This 'j' carries over to the imperfect subjunctive. The stem is 'dije-', not 'decie-'.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
These forms commonly occur after si in hypothetical present or future conditions. They also occur in past requests, reactions and other subjunctive constructions.
Level 4 - quisiera + InfinitivePolite Request with Quisiera
'Quisiera' is one of the most frequently used irregular imperfect subjunctive forms. It has a specific function as a very polite way to make requests, often translated as 'I would like'.
Level 4 - dije/dijiste/dijo/dijimos/dijeronPreterite of Decir
Dijeron supplies dije- after removing -ron; adding -ra gives dijera. Learning these preterite forms helps you build the imperfect subjunctive.
Level 2 - fuera/fueras/fuera/fuéramos/fueranImperfect Subjunctive of Ser/Ir
This is another crucial irregular imperfect subjunctive form for the verbs 'ser' and 'ir'. It follows the same rule, deriving its stem from the preterite form 'fueron'.
Level 4 - -iera/-ieras/-iera/-iéramos/-ierais/-ieranImperfect Subjunctive -ER/-IR (-ra)
Both regular and irregular forms can be built by removing preterite -ron and adding -ra. Do not append the full -iera ending to a base that already contains ie; j-stem forms such as dijera have e, not ie.
Level 4
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