Hello, there!

What would you do if you had $1,000,000? I’m pretty sure you’d go places, buy stuff and things like that, but my question here is to introduce a verb tense called Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo.

Damn, Adir, what on earth is that? Well, answer I, just take a look at some sentences in English:

If I had more money, I’d buy lots of things. [1]
If I were you, I wouldn’t do that. [2]
I wanted you to do that for me, but you just didn’t. [3]
I’d like you to arrive a little earlier next time. [4]
She called him so that/to pick her up. [5]

So, the Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo is used in conditional sentences in the past [1, 2], with “want” verbs showing a past or conditional wish [3,4] or a “purpose” sentence in the past.

Before translating the sentences above, let’s learn how to form the Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo. There are two forms, but the first one is more used in spoken Spanish.

First conjugation – Verbs ending in -ar

Amar

(si) yo amara / amase
(si) tú amaras / amases
(si) él amara / amase
(si) nosotros amáramos / amásemos
(si) vosotros amarais / amaseis
(si) ellos amaran / amasen

These verbs follow the same conjugation: llamar, estudiar, cantar, firmar, publicar, llorar, hablar, comprar, confiar, trabajar, fechar, callar, disfrutar, alquilar, among others.

Second conjugation – Verbs ending in -er

Vender

(si) yo vendiera / vendiese
(si) tú vendieras / vendieses
(si) él vendiera / vendiese
(si) nosotros vendiéramos / vendiésemos
(si) vosotros vendierais / vendieseis
(si) ellos vendieran / vendiesen

These verbs follow the same conjugation: comer, deber, correr, beber, barrer, temer, ver, aprender, comprender, perder, coger, ofrecer, nacer, entender, morder, volver, parecer, encender, among others.

Third conjugation – Verbs ending in -ir

Partir

(si) yo partiera / partiese
(si) tú partieras / partieses
(si) él partiera / partiese
(si) nosotros partiéramos / partiésemos
(si) vosotros partierais / partieseis
(si) ellos partieran / partieses

These verbs follow the same conjugation: vivir, abrir, escribir, fingir, reunir, añadir, recibir, sufrir, prohibir, dividir, existir, resumir, discutir, repartir, among others.

So basically this is how regular verbs are conjugated. Check out how the sentences above are translated.

If I had more money, I’d buy lots of things.
Si yo tuviera más dinero, compraría muchas cosas.

If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.
Si yo fuera tú, no haría eso.

I wanted you to do that for me, but you just didn’t.
Quería que tú lo hicieras para mí, pero no lo hiciste.

I’d like you to arrive a little earlier next time.
Me gustaría que llegaras un poco más temprano en la próxima vez.

She called him so that/to pick her up.
Ella lo llamó para que la recogiera.

Complete the following sentences and leave your answers in the comment area! Don’t worry about being correct, just express your ideas freely!

Si yo comiera más vegetales,…
Si él pensara en la consecuencias…
Si yo perdiera el empleo,…
Si abrieras la ventana,…
Si me tocara la lotería,…
Si ustedes vendieran la casa,…

You can also check out Laura’s video on this verb tense!

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