-ase/-ases/-ase/-ásemos/-aseis/-asen

Imperfect Subjunctive -AR (-se)

Level 4

The '-se' endings are an alternative way to form the imperfect subjunctive for -AR verbs. They are completely interchangeable with the more common '-ra' endings and are used in hypothetical situations, polite requests, and clauses of doubt or emotion in the past.

How It Works

The imperfect subjunctive has two sets of endings, the '-ra' endings and the '-se' endings. While both are correct and interchangeable, the -ra form is generally more common in everyday speech across the Spanish-speaking world. The '-se' form is often considered slightly more formal or literary, but this can vary by region.

Formation:
The rule is consistent for all -AR verbs, regular and irregular. Find the 'ellos' form of the preterite, remove '-ron', and add the appropriate ending.

  • hablar (to speak) → hablaron → habla-
  • yo hablase
  • tú hablases
  • él/ella/usted hablase
  • nosotros/as hablásemos (Note the accent!)
  • vosotros/as hablaseis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes hablasen

Key Uses:
The '-se' form is used in the exact same grammatical contexts as the '-ra' form. The most common situations are:

  • Hypothetical 'si' clauses: Used in the 'if' part of a sentence to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future. These are often paired with the conditional tense.
    Si yo cantase mejor, me uniría a un coro. (If I sang better, I would join a choir.)
  • Clauses after verbs of influence, doubt, or emotion in the past: When the main clause is in a past tense (like preterite or imperfect) and expresses a wish, doubt, suggestion, or emotion about another action.
    El director pidió que llegásemos temprano. (The director asked that we arrive early.)
  • Clauses after certain conjunctions: Used after conjunctions like 'como si' (as if), 'antes de que' (before), or 'para que' (so that) when the main verb is in the past.
    Me miró como si no me escuchase. (He looked at me as if he weren't listening to me.)

Examples (6)

  1. Si yo trabajase menos, tendría más tiempo libre.

    If I worked less, I would have more free time.

    Word by Word: If I worked less, I would have more free time.

  2. El profesor quería que yo hablase en español.

    The professor wanted me to speak in Spanish.

    Word by Word: The professor wanted that I spoke in Spanish.

  3. Era necesario que todos participasen en el proyecto.

    It was necessary for everyone to participate in the project.

    Word by Word: It was necessary that everyone participated in the project.

  4. Me sorprendió que no me llamasen para la fiesta.

    It surprised me that they didn't call me for the party.

    Word by Word: To me it surprised that not me they called for the party.

  5. Actuó como si no pasase nada.

    He acted as if nothing were happening.

    Word by Word: He acted as if not happened nothing.

    The construction 'como si' always requires the imperfect subjunctive.

  6. Te di el dinero para que comprases el libro.

    I gave you the money so that you would buy the book.

    Word by Word: To you I gave the money so that you bought the book.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the accent on the 'nosotros' form.

    Era importante que nosotros hablasemos con él.
    Era importante que nosotros hablásemos con él.

    The first-person plural (nosotros) form of the '-se' imperfect subjunctive always has a written accent on the vowel before the '-semos' ending (e.g., hablásemos, cantásemos).

  • Using the preterite indicative instead of the subjunctive in 'si' clauses.

    Si yo estudié más, sacaría mejores notas.
    Si yo estudiase más, sacaría mejores notas.

    Hypothetical 'if' clauses about present or future possibilities require the imperfect subjunctive, not the preterite indicative. 'Estudié' means 'I studied' (a completed action), while 'estudiase' means 'if I studied' (a hypothetical condition).