Study Guide—“Subjunctive Test #3”
Spanish III Honors with Sr. Huller
(Completion of this guide is not necessary, but very helpful)
Test Date: 2-9-15*
(a Monday)
Students,
Your first test of the second semester will cover the imperfect subjunctive, the conditional, and how if
clauses are formed and used:
Tense #5 – The Conditional Tense
Tense #7 – The Imperfect Subjunctive
If clauses
#5 Conditional Tense
-ar endings
-er endings
-ir endings
Tense #7 – Imperfect/Past Subjunctive – HOW DO YOU FORM IT?
The Imperfect/Past Subjunctive:
Overview
The imperfect/past subjunctive (el pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo) follows all the same rules
as the present subjunctive for when to use it. The only difference is timing. Use the imperfect
subjunctive when the WEIRDO verb (independent clause) is in the imperfect or the preterit or
refers to a previous experience.
Imperfect/Past Subjunctive
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To conjugate a verb in the imperfect subjunctive, you must first remember the 3rd person plural
of the preterit. Instead of using the infinitive for a stem, the imperfect subjunctive uses the 3rd
person plural of the preterit (without the -ron).
Imperfect Subjunctive Stem Formula
imperfect subjunctive stem = 3rd person plural preterit (without the -ron)



Ustedes hablaron -> hablaEllos tuvieron -> tuvieEllas vieron -> vie-
Irregular Imperfect Subjunctive
All verbs that are irregular in the 3rd person preterit maintain the same irregularity in the
imperfect subjunctive (i.e. tener).
How to Find the Imperfect Subjunctive Stem
infinitive
caber
dar
decir
dormir
estar
haber
hacer
ir
leer
tener
3rd person
preterite
cupieron
dieron
dijeron
durmieron
estuvieron
hubieron
hicieron
fueron
leyeron
tuvieron
imperfect
subjunctive stem
cupiediedijedurmieestuvie
hubiehiciefueleyetuvie-
3rd person
preterite
pedir
pidieron
poder
pudieron
poner
pusieron
preferir prefirieron
querer
quisieron
saber
supieron
sentir
sintieron
ser
fueron
traducir tradujeron
traer
trajeron
infinitive
imperfect
subjunctive stem
pidiepudiepusieprefiriequisiesupiesintiefuetradujetraje-
While all conjugations (-ar, -er, -ir) have the same endings in the imperfect subjunctive, there are
two options for endings for the imperfect subjunctive. The first option is used widely in speech
in Spain, Latin America, and South America. The second option is used more in written language
in Spain.
Imperfect Subjunctive Endings: 2 Options!
1st option (more common)
yo
-ra
tú
-ras
usted, él, ella
-ra
2nd option (Spain only)
yo
-se
tú
-ses
usted, él, ella
-se
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1st option (more common)
nosotros
-ramos
vosotros
-rais
ustedes, ellos, ellas
-ran
2nd option (Spain only)
nosotros
-semos
vosotros
-seis
ustedes, ellos, ellas
-sen
Tricky Nosotros All nosotros verb forms will carry an accent mark on the vowel before the
ending.
hablar
(habla-)
hacer
(hicie-)
traducir
(traduje-)
1st option
2nd option
1st option 2nd option
yo
hablara
hablase
hiciera
hiciese
tú
hablaras
hablases
hicieras
hicieses
usted, él,
ella
hablara
hablase
hiciera
hiciese
nosotros
habláramos hablásemos
vosotros
hablarais
hablaseis
hicierais
hicieseis
ustedes,
hablaran
ellos, ellas
hablasen
hicieran
hiciesen
hiciéramos hiciésemos
| 1st option | 2nd
option
| tradujera |
tradujese
| tradujeras |
tradujeses
| tradujera |
tradujese
| tradujéramos |
tradujésemos
| tradujerais |
tradujeseis
| tradujeran |
tradujesen
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.


Quería que vinieras/vinieses a mi fiesta. (I wanted you to come to my party.)
Tenía miedo 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 bueno que (él) se casara/casase. (It´s good that he got married.)
No me parece que el viaje fuera/fuese largo. (It doesn´t seem to me that they journey was
long.)
3. To Indicate Unlikely Events
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Use Ojalá or ojalá que to express the idea of hoping for something that is unlikely to happen or
are impossible.


Ojalá que nevara/nevase en Panamá mañana. (I hope it snows in Panama tomorrow.)
Ojalá mi hermano se casara/casase. (I wish my brother would get 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 yo fuera/fuese reina, viajaría por todo el mundo. (If I were queen, I would travel all
over the world.)
Pintaría más seguido si tuviera/100064/tuviese más tiempo. (I would paint more often if
I had more time.)
estar
hacer
tener
poner
poder
ser
ir
dar
decir
morir
leer
pedir
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