Spanish conjugation explanation
Subjunctive sequence of tenses

<p>When constructing a sentence with the subjunctive mood, there must be a logical relationship between the time of the main verb (the "trigger" verb) and the time of the subordinate verb. This relationship is called the <strong>sequence of tenses</strong>.</p>

<p>A common mistake is using the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>

when the trigger verb is in the past. If the main clause is in the past, the subjunctive usually shifts to the past as well.</p>

<p>The tense of the subordinate clause depends on the tense of the main clause:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>Group A: Present / Future / Command → Present Subjunctive</strong></div>

<div>If the main verb is in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/16/" target="_blank">Future</a>

, or

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank">Imperative</a>

, you generally use the Present Subjunctive.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <strong>quiero</strong> que tú <span class="brown_emphasis">vengas</span> a la fiesta. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I want you to come to the party.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Group B: Past / Conditional → Imperfect Subjunctive</strong></div>

<div>If the main verb is in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/15/" target="_blank">Imperfect</a>

, or

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/17/" target="_blank">Conditional</a>

, you generally use the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/20/" target="_blank">Imperfect Subjunctive</a>

.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <strong>quería</strong> que tú <span class="green_emphasis">vinieras</span> a la fiesta. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I wanted you to come to the party.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Examples in Context</div>

<p>Notice how the subjunctive verb changes when the main verb describes a past action or a hypothetical condition:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>Preterite Trigger (

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/pedir/" title="Click to see conjugations for pedir" target="_blank">pedir</a>

):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Mi jefe me <strong>pidió</strong> que no <span class="green_emphasis">llegara</span> tarde. (<span style="font-style: italic;">My boss asked me not to arrive late.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Imperfect Trigger (

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/dudar/" title="Click to see conjugations for dudar" target="_blank">dudar</a>

):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <strong>dudaba</strong> que ellos <span class="green_emphasis">tuvieran</span> dinero. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I doubted that they had money.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Conditional Trigger (

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/gustar/" title="Click to see conjugations for gustar" target="_blank">gustar</a>

):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Me <strong>gustaría</strong> que <span class="green_emphasis">hicieras</span> la cena hoy. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I would like you to make dinner today.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>For verbs with irregular stems like

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">tener</a>

, be sure to review the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_wrong_subjunctive_stem/" target="_blank">formation of the subjunctive stem</a>

.</p>

<p>Here is the Imperfect Subjunctive conjugation for

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">tener</a>

using the common <span style="font-style: italic;">-ra</span> endings:</p>

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/20/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito imperfecto subjuntivo (ra)</a>

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tuviera<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>

</div>

tú

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tuvieras<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>

</div>

él

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tuviera<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>

</div>

nosotros

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tuviéramos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>

</div>

vosotros

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tuvierais<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>

</div>

ellos

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tuvieran<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>

</div>

Spanish conjugation explanation Subjunctive sequence of tenses

Spanish conjugation explanation
Subjunctive sequence of tenses