Spanish conjugation explanation
Forming the imperfect and future subjunctive verb forms
<p>The stems for the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/20/" target="_blank">Imperfect Subjunctive</a>
(both the <span style="font-style: italic;">-ra</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">-se</span> forms) and the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/21/" target="_blank">Future Subjunctive</a>
are not derived from the infinitive, but rather directly from the <strong>Preterite</strong> tense.</p><p>To construct these tenses correctly, you must follow this golden rule:</p>
<ol>
<li>Take the <strong>third-person plural</strong> (P/3) form of the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite Indicative</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ellos/ellas/ustedes</span> form ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-ron</span>).</li><li>Remove the <span style="font-style: italic;">-ron</span> ending.</li>
<li>What remains is the <strong>subjunctive stem</strong>, to which you add the subjunctive endings.</li>
</ol>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Regular Verbs</div>
<p>For regular verbs, this process is simple. Let's look at
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/hablar/" title="Click to see conjugations for hablar" target="_blank">hablar</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to speak</span>):</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ellos habl<span class="brown_emphasis">aron</span> → stem: <span class="green_emphasis">habla-</span> → <span style="font-style: italic;">yo <span class="green_emphasis">habla</span>ra</span></div>
<p>And for
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/comer/" title="Click to see conjugations for comer" target="_blank">comer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to eat</span>):</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ellos comi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → stem: <span class="green_emphasis">comie-</span> → <span style="font-style: italic;">yo <span class="green_emphasis">comie</span>ra</span></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Irregular Verbs</div>
<p>This rule is absolutely critical for <strong>irregular verbs</strong>. If a verb has an irregular stem in the Preterite, that irregularity is carried over directly to the Imperfect and Future Subjunctive. You never use the present tense or infinitive stem.</p>
<p>Consider the verb
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ser/" title="Click to see conjugations for ser" target="_blank">ser</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to be</span>). Its Preterite form is highly irregular:</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">ellos fu<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → stem: <span class="green_emphasis">fue-</span></div>
<p>Once you have the stem <span style="font-style: italic;">fue-</span>, simply add the appropriate endings:</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<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>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ra</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ras</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ra</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fué<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ramos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ran</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/57/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito imperfecto subjuntivo (se)</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">se</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ses</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">se</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fué<span style="text-decoration: underline;">semos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">seis</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sen</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Future Subjunctive (rarely used in modern speech) follows the exact same pattern:</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/21/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futuro subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">re</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">res</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">re</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fué<span style="text-decoration: underline;">remos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">reis</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fue<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ren</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Common Irregular Stems</div>
<p>Here are correct stems for common verbs with irregular Preterite forms. Notice how the stem change in the Preterite dictates the Subjunctive form:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">tener</a>
: tuvi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">tuvie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">tuviera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/estar/" title="Click to see conjugations for estar" target="_blank">estar</a>
: estuvi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">estuvie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">estuviera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/poder/" title="Click to see conjugations for poder" target="_blank">poder</a>
: pudi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">pudie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">pudiera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/hacer/" title="Click to see conjugations for hacer" target="_blank">hacer</a>
: hici<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">hicie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">hiciera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/saber/" title="Click to see conjugations for saber" target="_blank">saber</a>
: supi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">supie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">supiera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/poner/" title="Click to see conjugations for poner" target="_blank">poner</a>
: pusi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">pusie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">pusiera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/querer/" title="Click to see conjugations for querer" target="_blank">querer</a>
: quisi<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">quisie-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">quisiera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ir/" title="Click to see conjugations for ir" target="_blank">ir</a>
/<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ser/" title="Click to see conjugations for ser" target="_blank">ser</a>
: fu<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">fue-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">fuera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/decir/" title="Click to see conjugations for decir" target="_blank">decir</a>
: dij<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">dije-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">dijera...</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/traer/" title="Click to see conjugations for traer" target="_blank">traer</a>
: traj<span class="brown_emphasis">eron</span> → <span class="green_emphasis">traje-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">trajera...</span>)</li></ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Important Note on Accentuation</div>
<p>For the <strong>first-person plural</strong> form (<span style="font-style: italic;">nosotros/nosotras</span>) of the Imperfect Subjunctive, you must always add a written accent mark. The stress falls on the third-to-last syllable (esdrújula), which is always the vowel immediately preceding the ending.</p>
<p>Notice where the accent falls in these examples:</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">fu<strong>é</strong>ramos, tuvi<strong>é</strong>ramos, habl<strong>á</strong>ramos</div>
<p>You can read more about this rule in the explanation about
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_subjunctive_accent_mark/" target="_blank">accent marks in the Subjunctive</a>
.</p>