Imperfect Subjunctive

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Imperfect Subjunctive
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• The imperfect subjunctive is used just like the
  present subjunctive
• Noun clauses If theres emotion, doubt/denial,
  es adj. que, or an indirect command in the
  main clause, you need subjunctive in the
  dependent clause.
• Adjective clauses If the object being described
  doesnt exist or may not exist, you need
  subjunctive in the dependent clause.
• Adverb clauses certain conjunctions require the
  subjunctive time conjunctions require the
  subjunctive if the action in the clause hasnt
  occurred yet.

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• The difference is that you need to use imperfect
  subjunctive if you need a past tense
• I doubt that he studies. he studies would be
  present subjunctive.
• I doubt that he studied. he studied would be
  imperfect subjunctive.

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Forming the Imperfect Subjunctive

• Forming the imperfect subjunctive is very easy .
  . . if youve mastered forming the preterit,
  which is very hard.
• To form the imperfect subjunctive, go to the
  third person plural of the preterit
• hablé hablamos comí comimos
• hablaste hablasteis comiste comisteis
• habló hablaron comió comieron
• Drop the ron and add the following endings
  (same for ar, -er, -ir verbs)
• -ra -?ramos hablara habláramos
  comiera comiéramos
• -ras -rais hablaras hablarais
  comieras comierais
• -ra -ran hablara hablaran
  comiera comieran

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• There are no exceptions, no irregularities,
  because, without fail, you go to the third person
  plural of the preterit, drop the ron, and add
  the imperfect subjunctive endings listed on the
  previous page. However, there are lots of
  irregulars and stem-changing verbs in the
  preterit, such as the following
• fueron leyeron
• supieron estuvieron
• durmieron quisieron
• pidieron dijeron

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• Click here to go to a lesson on the preterit.
• Click here to go to a brief practice exercise.