-iera/-ieras/-iera/-iéramos/-ierais/-ieran
Imperfect Subjunctive -ER/-IR (-ra)
The -iera endings are one of two ways to form the imperfect subjunctive for -ER and -IR verbs. This tense is used to talk about hypothetical situations, possibilities, or actions in the past that were desired, doubted, or emotionally reacted to.
How It Works
The imperfect subjunctive is a crucial mood for expressing subjectivity in the past. The -iera endings are the most common form in both spoken and written Spanish, though an alternative -iese form exists and is interchangeable.
Main Uses:
1. Hypothetical 'If' Clauses (Si Clauses)
This is the most common use. It describes a hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situation in the present or future. The structure is Si + imperfect subjunctive, ... conditional.
- Si pudiera viajar a cualquier lugar, iría a Japón. (If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Japan.)
2. Subordinate Clauses in the Past
It's used in a subordinate clause when the main clause is in a past tense (preterite, imperfect, pluperfect) and expresses will, emotion, doubt, or impersonality (WEIRDO verbs).
- Will/Influence: Mi jefe me pidió que escribiera el informe. (My boss asked me to write the report.)
- Emotion: Me sorprendió que no vinieran a la fiesta. (It surprised me that they didn't come to the party.)
- Doubt: Dudaba que él supiera la respuesta. (I doubted that he knew the answer.)
3. Polite Requests or Suggestions
Verbs like querer, poder, and deber are often used in the imperfect subjunctive to make requests more polite and less direct.
- Quisiera dos cafés, por favor. (I would like two coffees, please.)
- Debieras hablar con él. (You should talk to him.)
4. 'As If' Clauses with como si
The imperfect subjunctive always follows the expression como si (as if).
- Gasta dinero como si fuera millonario. (He spends money as if he were a millionaire.)
Irregular Verbs
Verbs that are irregular in the third-person plural preterite will have an irregular stem in the imperfect subjunctive. For example:
- tener → tuvieron → tuviera
- poder → pudieron → pudiera
- decir → dijeron → dijera
- hacer → hicieron → hiciera
Examples (5)
- Si yo comiera más sano, me sentiría mejor.
If I ate healthier, I would feel better.
Word by Word: If I ate more healthy, I would feel myself better.
This is a classic hypothetical
siclause.comierais the imperfect subjunctive ofcomer. - El doctor me recomendó que bebiera más agua.
The doctor recommended that I drink more water.
Word by Word: The doctor to me recommended that I drank more water.
The main verb
recomendóis in the preterite and triggers the subjunctive. The subordinate verbbebierais in the imperfect subjunctive. - Quisiera hacer una reserva para dos personas.
I would like to make a reservation for two people.
Word by Word: I would like to make a reservation for two people.
Quisiera(fromquerer) is a very common and polite way to make a request. - No era probable que él pudiera terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
It wasn't probable that he could finish the project on time.
Word by Word: It was not probable that he could finish the project on time.
The impersonal expression of doubt in the past (
No era probable que...) requires the imperfect subjunctivepudiera. - Actuó como si no me viera.
He acted as if he didn't see me.
Word by Word: He acted as if not me he saw.
The phrase
como si(as if) is always followed by the imperfect subjunctive.vierais from the verbver.
Common Mistakes
Using the imperfect indicative instead of the subjunctive in hypothetical
siclauses.Si yo tenía más dinero, compraría un coche.Si yo tuviera más dinero, compraría un coche.Contrary-to-fact or hypothetical
siclauses require the imperfect subjunctive (tuviera), not the imperfect indicative (tenía).Using the present subjunctive when the main clause is in the past.
Mi madre quería que yo coma las verduras.Mi madre quería que yo comiera las verduras.This is a tense sequence error. A main verb in a past tense (like the imperfect
quería) requires a past subjunctive (like the imperfect subjunctivecomiera) in the subordinate clause.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
This is the most common structure where the
Level 4-ieraform is used. The imperfect subjunctive appears in the 'if' part of the sentence to set up the hypothetical condition. - -í/-iste/-ió/-imos/-isteis/-ieronPreterite -ER/-IR Verbs
The imperfect subjunctive is formed from the third-person plural (ellos) of the preterite. Understanding the preterite endings for -ER/-IR verbs is key to forming this mood.
Level 2 - -ía/-ías/-ía/-íamos/-íais/-ían (condicional)Conditional Tense
The conditional tense is the typical partner to the imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical
Level 3siclauses. The-ieraform sets the condition, and the conditional describes the hypothetical result. - -iese/-ieses/-iese/-iésemos/-ieseis/-iesenImperfect Subjunctive -ER/-IR (-se)
This is the alternative set of endings for the same tense.
Level 4-ieraand-ieseare almost always interchangeable, though-ierais more common in everyday speech. - tuviera/hiciera/pudiera/pusiera/quisiera/supiera/dijera/vinieraCommon Imperfect Subjunctive Irregulars
Many of the most common -ER and -IR verbs have irregular preterite stems, which leads to them being irregular in the imperfect subjunctive. This pattern covers those essential irregular forms.
Level 4 - Sequence of Tenses (Past)
This rule explains why you must use the imperfect subjunctive (a past subjunctive) after a main verb in a past tense (like preterite or imperfect). It governs the temporal relationship between clauses.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -iera/-ieras/-iera/-iéramos/-ierais/-ieran in Bubblegum
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