fuera/fueras/fuera/fuéramos/fueran
Imperfect Subjunctive of Ser/Ir
'Fuera' and its conjugations are the imperfect subjunctive forms for both 'ser' (to be) and 'ir' (to go).
How It Works
The imperfect subjunctive forms of 'ser' and 'ir' are identical, making context the only way to tell them apart. This form is crucial for advanced sentence structures.
Conjugation (-ra form):
- yo fuera
- tú fueras
- él/ella/usted fuera
- nosotros/as fuéramos
- vosotros/as fuerais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes fueran
Key Uses:
1. Hypothetical 'Si' Clauses: Used in 'if' clauses that describe a hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situation in the present.
• Si yo fuera (ser) millonario, compraría una isla. (If I were a millionaire, I would buy an island.)
2. Wishes, Emotions, Doubts in the Past: Used in a subordinate clause when the main clause is in a past tense (e.g., preterite, imperfect) and expresses a wish, emotion, doubt, or command. This follows the sequence of tenses.
• Quería que fueras (ir) a la fiesta. (I wanted you to go to the party.)
• Dudaba que fuera (ser) verdad. (I doubted that it was true.)
3. After 'Como Si': The expression 'como si' (as if) is always followed by the imperfect subjunctive.
• Habla como si fuera (ser) el experto. (He talks as if he were the expert.)
Note: There is an alternative set of endings (-se), so you might also see fuese, fueses, fuese, etc. The -ra forms are more common in everyday speech.
Examples (5)
- Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría.
If I were you, I wouldn't do it.
Word by Word: If I were you, not it I-would-do.
Here, 'fuera' comes from 'ser' and is used in a classic hypothetical 'si' clause.
- Mis padres querían que yo fuera a la universidad.
My parents wanted me to go to university.
Word by Word: My parents wanted that I went to the university.
In this sentence, 'fuera' comes from 'ir'. It's used because the main clause ('querían que') expresses a desire in the past.
- No me sorprendió que la película fuera tan larga.
It didn't surprise me that the movie was so long.
Word by Word: Not me it-surprised that the movie were so long.
This 'fuera' is from 'ser'. It follows an expression of emotion in the past ('no me sorprendió que').
- Caminaba como si fuera un fantasma.
He walked as if he were a ghost.
Word by Word: He-walked as if he-were a ghost.
The phrase 'como si' (as if) always requires the imperfect subjunctive. Here, 'fuera' is from 'ser'.
- El plan era que fuéramos todos juntos en un coche.
The plan was for us to go all together in one car.
Word by Word: The plan was that we-went all together in one car.
Here, 'fuéramos' is the 'nosotros' form of 'ir', following the structure 'El plan era que...' which sets up a planned scenario in the past.
Common Mistakes
Confusing 'fuera' (imperfect subjunctive) with 'fue' (preterite).
Si yo fue doctor, te ayudaría.Si yo fuera doctor, te ayudaría.'Fue' is the simple past indicative, used for completed actions (e.g., 'Él fue doctor' - He was a doctor). For hypothetical 'if' clauses like this, you must use the imperfect subjunctive 'fuera'.
Using the present subjunctive in a past story.
Me pidió que vaya a la tienda.Me pidió que fuera a la tienda.In a story told in the past, the imperfect subjunctive ('fuera') is the usual choice after 'pidió'. The present 'vaya' is possible when the request still holds now.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the imperfect subjunctive forms of 'ser' and 'ir' (fuera, etc.), you must first understand how the preterite 'fui' is conjugated, as the imperfect subjunctive stem is derived from the preterite third-person plural 'fueron'. Additionally, you should be familiar with the general endings for the imperfect subjunctive and the fundamental meanings of the verbs 'ser' and 'ir'.
- fui/fuiste/fue/fuimos/fueronPreterite of Ser/Ir
The imperfect subjunctive is formed using the third-person plural of the preterite (fueron) as a stem base.
Level 2 - -iera/-ieras/-iera/-iéramos/-ierais/-ieranImperfect Subjunctive -ER/-IR (-ra)
This pattern follows the standard conjugation endings for the imperfect subjunctive of -er and -ir verbs.
Level 4 - ser / estarSer vs. Estar Basics
Understanding the core meanings of 'ser' and 'ir' is essential to knowing when to use these specific forms.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
This is the most common structure for using 'fuera' from 'ser' to talk about present hypotheticals (e.g., 'Si yo fuera rico...'). 'Fuera' is the key component in the 'si' clause.
Level 4 - como si + Imperfect SubjunctiveAs if Construction
The phrase 'como si' (as if) is a fixed expression that always triggers the imperfect subjunctive. 'Fuera' is frequently used after it (e.g., 'como si fuera un experto' - as if he were an expert).
Level 4 - Sequence of Tenses (Past)
This grammatical rule explains why you must use 'fuera' instead of the present subjunctive ('sea'/'vaya') when the main verb is in a past tense (e.g., 'Quería que fuera...' - I wanted him to be/go...).
Level 5 - era/eras/era/éramos/eranImperfect of Ser
This is the imperfect indicative of 'ser'. It's used for descriptions and ongoing states in the past ('Él era alto'). It contrasts with 'fuera', which is used for subjective or hypothetical situations, not descriptions of past reality.
Level 2 - iba/ibas/iba/íbamos/ibanImperfect of Ir
This is the imperfect indicative of 'ir', describing past habitual actions or ongoing movement ('Yo iba a la escuela'). It states a past reality, unlike 'fuera', which is used for non-real or subjective contexts.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice fuera/fueras/fuera/fuéramos/fueran in Bubblegum
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