1. Unidad 12
Estructuras Gramaticales

2. Las formas del imperfecto del
subjuntivo
• The imperfect subjunctive is formed as
follows:
Ellos form of the preterite minus -ron
+
Imperfect subjunctive endings
• This pattern applies to all verbs,
regular and irregular

3. Imperfect Subjunctive
Infinitive
Tomar
Beber
Vivir
Ser/ ir
Ellos form
of preterite
Tomaron
Bebieron
Vivieron
Fueron
Que yo
Tomara
Bebiera
Viviera
Fuera
Que tu
Tomaras
Bebieras
Vivieras
Fueras
Que el, etc.
Tomara
Bebiera
Viviera
Fuera
Que
nosotros
Tomáramos Bebiéramos Viviéramos
Fuéramos
Que
Vosotros
Tomarais
Bebierais
Vivierais
Fuerais
Que ellos,
etc.
Tomaran
Bebieran
Vivieran
Fueran

4. Stem-changing verbs in -ir
This pattern applies to stem-changing
verbs in -ir also
Infinitive
Preterite (ellos Imperfect
form)
subjunctive
(yo form)
Sentir [ie, i]
Sintieron
Que yo
sintiera
Pedir [i, i]
Pidieron
Que yo pidiera
Dormir [ue, u]
Durmieron
Que yo
durmiera

5. Irregular Preterite Stems
This pattern applies to
irregular preterite stems also
Infinitive
Preterite (ellos Imperfect
form)
Subjunctive
(yo form)
Traer
Trajeron
Que yo trajera
Estar
Estuvieron
Que yo
estuviera

6. Un poco mas…
• In Spain, a second form
of the imperfect
subjunctive is used
instead of the -ra endings
• -se (yo),
• -ses (tu),
• -se (el, ella, ud.),
• -semos (nosotros),
• -seis (vosotros),
• -sen (ellos, ellas, uds.)

7. El uso general del imperfecto del
subjuntivo
• In sentences requiring the subjunctive, the
imperfect subjunctive must be used when the
verb of the main clause is in a past tense. This
occurs:
– After a verb or expression of volition
– After impersonal expressions conveying a command,
opinion, or judgement
– After a verb/expression of emotion or doubt
– After a relative pronoun when uncertainty is implied
– After a conjunction indicating purpose, intent,
restriction, or anticipation

8. También…
• The imperfect subjunctive is also used when
the verb of the main clause is in the conditional
Me gustaría que Usted
visitara mi casa.
¡Sí!

9. Summary
Main clause
Dependent clause
Present tense
Present subjunctive
Past tense (preterite,
Imperfect subjunctive
imperfect, pluperfect) or
conditional

10. Las oraciones con si
• These sentences contain 2 clauses
– A si-clause (if-clause) that states the condition
– A main-clause (result clause) that expresses the
possible outcome
Si-clause
(condition)
Main Clause (result)
When the condition
expresses something
possible
Present indicative Future
When the condition
expresses something
contrary to reality
Imperfect
subjunctive
conditional

11. También
• The imperfect subjunctive is used after
“como si” (as if), since this conjunction
always refers to something contrary to
reality.