El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo

Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2022-11-24

El pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo - or imperfecto subjuntivo for short - somewhat unusually has two forms which are interchangeable!

It is used to express different things: past actions, as a courtesy formula, in exclamations that refer to actions of impossible fulfillment, or in conditional sentences.

For example

Me dijo que pensara en su propuesta. 
He told me to think about his proposal.

Quisiera hablar con el director.
I would like to speak to the director.

¡Ya quisieras tú un marido como el mío! (Pero no lo tienes.)
You would like a husband like mine! (But you don't.)

¡Ojalá fuese martes! (Pero no lo es.)  
I wish it were Tuesday! (But it's not.)

See also:

Lessons with more detail on El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo

Conjugate Spanish verbs in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive tense (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical clauses introduced by si followed by the Spanish conditional simple
Conjugate haber in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Conjugate estar in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Conjugate Spanish verb tener in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Using the imperfect subjunctive after the conjunction como si in Spanish (subordinate manner clauses)
Using the Spanish subjunctive with negative opinion phrases
Using the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish with impersonal expressions in the conditional (Sería+adjective+que)
Using quisiera for I would like (alternative to querría)
Querer que followed by the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish
Aunque + the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish
Para que followed by the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish (purpose subordinate clauses)
Pedir followed by the Spanish imperfect subjunctive to ask someone to do something
Using the Spanish subjunctive with verbs that express "wish" and "feeling" (conditional in the main clause)
Cuando + the imperfect subjunctive
Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive with verbs giving advice/order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
Si + Imperfect subjunctive for "if only/I wish"
Como / cuando / donde / quien with indicative or subjunctive in Spanish
Using Ni que + subjuntivo in Spanish
Using "como si" + the imperfect subjunctive for an ironic reproach
The conditional simple + que + the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish (wish, advice, feelings)
Ojalá with past tenses in the subjunctive in Spanish
Yo que tú / Si yo fuera tú / Yo de ti for If I were you in Spanish
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