Imperfect Subjunctive: Conjugations and Uses

1. Imperfect Subjunctive: Conjugations and Uses By Sarah Santana

2. Introduction • The imperfect subjunctive refers to a past experience but can also refer to unlikely events or possibilities. Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por todo el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel around the whole world.) Si yofueratú, no lo haría. (If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.) For Example…

3. Mechanics To conjugate a verb in the imperfect subjunctive, You need the Preterite!!! STEP 1:Remember the 3rd person plural of the preterite. The imperfect subjunctive uses the 3rd person plural of the preterite (without the -ron). STEP 2: Add the Imperfect Subjuntive ending. The great thing about this the tense is that for all –AR, -ER, and –IR verbs the ending are the same THE ENDINGS YO -ra TU -ras USTED, EL, ELLA-ra NOSOTROS –ramos (thereisanaccentonthe a) USTEDES, ELLOS, ELLAN-ran

4. Don’t Forget the irregulars INFINITIVE 3rd Person Preterite Imperfect Subjunctive Stem • Caber cupieroncupie- • pedirpidieronpidie- • dardieron die- • poderpudieronpudie- • decirdijerondije- • ponerpusieronpusie- • dormirdurmierondurmie- • preferirprefirieronprefirie- • estarestuvieronestuvie- • quererquisieronquisie- • haberhubieronhubie- • sabersupieronsupie- • hacerhicieronhicie- • sentirsintieronsintie- • irfueronfue- • serfueronfue- • leerleyeronleye- • traducirtradujerontraduje- • tenertuvierontuvie- • traertrajerontraje-

5. W-wishes, wants, desires E-emotions I-impersonal expression R-relationships D- doubt O- Ojala Imperfect subjunctive uses 1. The Independent Clause is in the Past • If the WEIRDO verb (independent clause) is in the preterite or the imperfect, then the subjunctive verb that follows will also be imperfect. • Quisequevinieras/vinieses a mi fiesta. (I wanted you to come to my party.) • Teníamiedo de que no lloviera/lloviese. (I was scared it wouldn't rain.) 2. The Independent Clause Refers to a Previous Occurrence • This is used to express current emotions, doubts, etc. about something that happened in the past. • Es buenoque (él) se casara/casase. (It's good that he got married.) • No me pareceque el viajefuera/fuese largo. (It doesn't seem to me that the journey was long.) 3. To Indicate Unlikely Events • Use Ojalá or ojaláque to express the idea of hoping for something that is unlikely to happen or is impossible. • Ojaláquenevara/nevase en Panamá. (I wish to God it were snowing in Panama.) • Ojalá mi hermano se casara/casase. (I wish my brother were getting married.) 4. If Clauses • When introduced with si (if) the imperfect subjunctive can support an independent clause which introduces a dependent conditional clause. These are usually situations that are not very likely. • Si yofuera/fuesereina, viajaríaportodo el mundo. (If I were queen, I would travel all over the world.) • Pintaríamásseguidosituviera/tuviesemástiempo. (I would paint more often if I had more time.) 5. Formal Request • Using only the verbs deber, querer, or poder, you can use the imperfect subjunctive to make a very polite suggestion or formal request. • Quisiera dos semanas de vacación. (I would like two weeks of vacation.) • ¿Pudieraayudarnos? (Could you help us?)

6. Lets practice! • Worksheet: http://www.musicalspanish.com/tutorial/imp-subjunctive-worksheet.htm • Worksheet: http://www.colby.edu/~bknelson/SLC/subj_past_forms.php • Practice Quiz: http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/practice/98

7. Ap Activity • Now that you have had some practice try to write a creative conversation using the Imperfect Subjunctive. Get a partner and pretend they are a citizen of your country. Talk to them about the topics we've been researching and impress them with your new knowledge about their country! Catch up with them about how things are going for them and for yourself. Good luck and refer to the PowerPoint for any help 