Imperfecto de Subjuntivo II

Quería que me ayudases

In this lesson we are going to discover some special use cases that Imperfecto de Subjuntivo has, and which shouldn’t be missed.

You know from the previous lesson, that the difference between Presente de Subjuntivo and Imperfecto de Subjuntivo depends on which tense the main actions (markers) are expressed with.

Quiero que compres – I want you to buy

Quería que compraras – I wanted you to buy

However, there are some specific markers, that require Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, even when the sentence is referred to the present. Let’s list the most common ones.

1. Como si

como si – as if

Tú bailas como si fueras gitana – You dance as if you were gipsy

Llevamos tanta comida como si viajáramos alrededor del mundo – We are carrying so much food as if we were traveling around the world

Somos tan felices como si estuviéramos en el paraíso – We are so happy as if we were in the paradise

Try it yourself:

You speak Spanish as if you were Spanish

You have so many clothes as if you lived in Alaska (vosotros)

They always go by taxi as if they had much money

2. Ni que

ni que – it’s not like

This is a vernacular form of saying that you don’t like something. It can express a negative surprise or reproach.

Ni que fueras ciego – It’s not like you are blind

Mira, un hombre anda desnudo. ¡Ni que estuviera solo en esta playa! – Look, a man is walking naked. It’s not like he is alone on this beach!

Try it yourself:

It’s not like you are crazy

It’s not like he is the boss

It’s not like they are at home

3. Quién

quién + Subjuntivo – If only I …

The verb after quién with this meaning should always come in the third person singular (él, ella). It’s almost the same as ojalá, but always refers to the speaker.

¡Quién viviera como tú! – If only I could live as you

¡Quién pudiera volar como un pájaro! – If only I could fly like a bird

Try it yourself:

If only I had so much money

If only I was as smart as you

4. Markers that accept both types of Subjuntivo

ojalá – if only

es una pena que – it’s a pity that

es extraño que – it’s strange that

There are some markers with which you can use Presente de Subjuntivo, as well as Imperfecto de Subjuntivo. The choice depends on the grade of possibility that something will happen. If you use Presente de Subjuntivo, that means that there is some possibility. If you use Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, it’s almost or completely unreal that something will happen.

Ojalá llueva – If only it rained (We know that it can rain)

Ojalá lloviera – If only it rained (We know, that it can’t rain, but still we wish it)

Ojalá tuviera 20 años – If only I was 20 years old (It’s unreal, but I want it)

Es una pena que no haya agua caliente – It’s a pity, that we don’t have hot water (but it’s possible)

Es una pena que no hubiera agua caliente – It’s a pity, that we don’t have hot water (and we won’t have it)

Es extraño que Daniel no sepa inglés después de un año en América – It’s strange, that Daniel doesn’t know English after a year in America

Es extraño que Daniel no supiese inglés después de un año en América – It’s strange, that Daniel doesn’t know English after a year in America (These two sentences have the same meaning)

Sometimes the difference between Presente and Imperfecto de Subjuntivo is quite blurred. In some cases it even doesn’t matter, which tense to choose. Just keep in mind, that it can be possible.

Try it yourself:

If only tomorrow would be a good day

It’s a pity, that Rafa doesn’t live next door

It’s strange that you don’t know each other

Alternative form of Imperfecto de Subjuntivo

This part of the lesson is optional. If you don’t feel confident enough about the verb forms of Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, you can skip it.

It might seem tricky, but Imperfecto de Subjuntivo has another set of verb endings. They are also commonly used, but maybe a tiny bit less often. For practical reasons, you should get acquainted with them, as well.

Quería que me ayudaras = Quería que me ayudases

Era necesario que cerráramos la tienda = Era necesario que cerrásemos la tienda

These two pairs of sentences are identical, and you never know, which of them Spanish speakers will prefer. There is no answer, why it happens, but for some historical reason Imperfecto de Subjuntivo has two different forms. It’s a unique case in the whole Spanish language.

The second set of endings looks pretty similar. All you need to do is to change a couple of letters. Instead of re, use se.

mirar

yo – mirase

tú – mirases

él, ella, usted – mirase

nosotros – mirásemos

vosotros – miraseis

ellos, ellas, ustedes – mirasen

entender

yo – entendiese

tú – entendieses

él, ella, usted – entendiese

nosotros – entendiésemos

vosotros – entendieseis

ellos, ellas, ustedes – entendiesen

cubrir

yo – cubriese

tú – cubrieses

él, ella, usted – cubriese

nosotros – cubriésemos

vosotros – cubrieseis

ellos, ellas, ustedes – cubriesen

Conjugate these verbs by yourself: olvidar, reparar, comer, correr, descubrir, poner, hacer, decir, ir.

Try it yourself:

Esperaba que me dieran un salario más alto – …

No nos gustó que los niños no nos escucharan – …

Raúl me dio la llave del coche para que lo llevara a casa – …

Pensábamos ir a pescar en cuanto se pusiera el sol – …