-ara/-aras/-ara/-áramos/-arais/-aran
Imperfect Subjunctive -AR (-ra)
The '-ra' imperfect subjunctive endings for -AR verbs are: -ara, -aras, -ara, -áramos, -arais, -aran. It's used in clauses expressing doubt, wishes, or hypothetical situations, often following si (if) or expressions like quería que (I wanted that...).
How It Works
The imperfect subjunctive is a crucial mood for expressing hypothetical situations, polite requests, and subjectivity in the past. The '-ra' form is one of two equivalent sets of endings (the other being the -se form).
Formation:
To conjugate a regular -AR verb in the '-ra' imperfect subjunctive, follow these steps:
1. Start with the ellos/ellas/ustedes form of the preterite tense.
2. Drop the final -ron.
3. Add the following endings:
- yo: -ara
- tú: -aras
- él/ella/usted: -ara
- nosotros/as: -áramos (note the accent!)
- vosotros/as: -arais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: -aran
Example with HABLAR:
Preterite: hablaron → Stem: habla-
- yo hablara
- tú hablaras
- él hablara
- nosotros habláramos
- vosotros hablarais
- ellos hablaran
Main Uses:
1. Hypothetical 'If' Clauses: This is the most common use, paired with the conditional tense.
• Si yo hablara mejor español, buscaría un trabajo en España. (If I spoke better Spanish, I would look for a job in Spain.)
2. Subordinate Clauses in the Past: Used after verbs of will, emotion, doubt, or influence when the main verb is in a past tense (imperfect, preterite) or conditional.
• Mis padres querían que yo estudiara medicina. (My parents wanted me to study medicine.)
• Dudaba que el equipo ganara el partido. (I doubted that the team would win the game.)
3. After 'como si' (as if): Always followed by the imperfect subjunctive.
• Gastó todo su dinero como si no importara. (He spent all his money as if it didn't matter.)
4. Polite Suggestions/Requests: While more common with irregular verbs like quisiera or pudiera, the structure can be used with any verb.
• Me gustaría que me ayudaras con esto. (I would like you to help me with this.)
Examples (6)
- Si yo hablara con él, entendería la situación.
If I spoke with him, I would understand the situation.
Word by Word: If I spoke with him, would understand the situation.
- El profesor pidió que el estudiante presentara su proyecto.
The professor asked that the student present his project.
Word by Word: The professor asked that the student presented his project.
- No creía que ellos llegaran a tiempo.
I didn't believe that they would arrive on time.
Word by Word: Not I-believed that they arrived on time.
- Ojalá nevara en Navidad.
I wish it would snow on Christmas.
Word by Word: Hopefully it-snowed on Christmas.
- Me trataba como si yo no importara.
He/She treated me as if I didn't matter.
Word by Word: Me he/she-treated as if I not mattered.
- Esperábamos que nos ayudaran con la mudanza.
We were hoping they would help us with the move.
Word by Word: We-hoped that us they-helped with the move.
Common Mistakes
Using the imperfect indicative when you mean an unreal condition.
Different MeaningSi yo hablaba más, tenía más amigos.Si yo hablara más, tendría más amigos.Si yo hablaba más, tenía más amigos is a good sentence about a past habit: whenever I talked more, I had more friends. For an unreal situation, use the imperfect subjunctive and the conditional: si yo hablara más, tendría más amigos.
Forgetting the accent mark on the 'nosotros' form.
Era importante que nosotros hablaramos con el jefe.Era importante que nosotros habláramos con el jefe.The 'nosotros' form of the '-ra' imperfect subjunctive always has a written accent on the vowel before the '-ramos' ending (habláramos, compráramos, etc.) to maintain the correct stress.
Using the present subjunctive when the main clause is in the past.
Dudaba que él llegue a tiempo.Dudaba que él llegara a tiempo.Usually, when the main verb is in a past tense, the subordinate clause uses a past subjunctive form (llegara). The present subjunctive can occur when the doubt still applies now, but llegara is the usual form for this card.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the imperfect subjunctive, you must first understand how to form the preterite tense, specifically the third-person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes), as this provides the stem for all imperfect subjunctive conjugations. Additionally, you should be familiar with the basic concept of the subjunctive mood and how it differs from the indicative past tenses.
Related Patterns
- si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
This is the most common structure where the '-ra' imperfect subjunctive is used. The imperfect subjunctive appears in the 'if' clause to set up a hypothetical condition.
Level 4 - -ase/-ases/-ase/-ásemos/-aseis/-asenImperfect Subjunctive -AR (-se)
This is the alternative set of endings for the imperfect subjunctive. 'Hablara' and 'hablase' are interchangeable in most contexts. It's essential to recognize both forms.
Level 4 - -ía/-ías/-ía/-íamos/-íais/-ían (condicional)Conditional Tense
The conditional tense is the typical partner to the imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical sentences. The '-ra' form sets the condition, and the conditional describes the result.
Level 3 - como si + Imperfect SubjunctiveAs if Construction
This construction, meaning 'as if', is a key trigger that always requires the use of the imperfect subjunctive to describe a hypothetical or counterfactual situation.
Level 4 - quería que viniera / quiere que vengaTense Sequence Examples
This pattern explains the rules for tense agreement (sequence of tenses). The imperfect subjunctive is required when the main verb of influence, doubt, or emotion is in a past tense.
Level 5 - -aba/-abas/-aba/-ábamos/-abais/-abanImperfect -AR Verbs
Learners often confuse the imperfect indicative with the imperfect subjunctive. This pattern helps clarify the different uses: indicative for past descriptions and habits, subjunctive for past hypotheticals and subjective clauses.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ara/-aras/-ara/-áramos/-arais/-aran in Bubblegum
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