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Tense guide
Pretérito imperfecto subjuntivo (ra) (Imperfect Subjunctive (ra))

Language: Spanish
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Introduction

This verb form helps you talk about feelings, wishes, doubts, or opinions about things that happened in the past. It is often used when one person's feeling or action relates to what another person did or what happened in a past situation.

You use this form to express wishes or desires about a past action. It often follows verbs like "querer" (to want) or "esperar" (to hope).

Yo quería que tú vinieras a la fiesta ayer.
(I wanted you to come to the party yesterday.)
Mis padres esperaban que yo estudiara más.
(My parents hoped that I would study more.)
Ella deseaba que su amigo la llamara.
(She wished her friend would call her.)
Queríamos que el equipo ganara el partido.
(We wanted the team to win the game.)

Use this verb form to talk about your emotions or feelings regarding a past event. It often appears after verbs like "gustar" (to like) or "sorprender" (to surprise).

Me gustó que me ayudaras con el proyecto.
(I liked that you helped me with the project.)
Le sorprendió que nosotros supiéramos su secreto.
(It surprised him that we knew his secret.)
Nos alegramos de que tuvierais un buen viaje.
(We were happy that you had a good trip.)
Fue una pena que no pudieras venir.
(It was a shame that you couldn't come.)

This form is used after phrases that express doubt or disbelief about a past situation.

Yo dudaba que él dijera la verdad.
(I doubted that he told the truth.)
No creía que el restaurante estuviera abierto.
(I didn't believe the restaurant was open.)

You use this verb form to talk about past requests, commands, or suggestions.

El jefe me pidió que terminara el informe.
(My boss asked me to finish the report.)
Te sugerí que hablaras con ella.
(I suggested that you talk with her.)
Mi madre me dijo que limpiara mi habitación.
(My mother told me to clean my room.)

This form is common after impersonal expressions that make a judgment or statement about a past action, like "it was necessary" or "it was important".

Era importante que todos participaran.
(It was important that everyone participated.)
Era necesario que compráramos más comida.
(It was necessary for us to buy more food.)
Era mejor que no supiera nada.
(It was better that he knew nothing.)

You always use this form after the phrase como si (as if / as though) to describe something by comparing it to an imaginary situation.

Él hablaba como si fuera el experto.
(He spoke as if he were the expert.)
Ella gastó el dinero como si no le importara.
(She spent the money as if she didn't care.)

Use this verb form after antes de que (before) when referring to a past action that happened before another past action.

Terminé mi tarea antes de que mis amigos llegaran.
(I finished my homework before my friends arrived.)
Nos fuimos antes de que empezara a llover.
(We left before it started to rain.)

You might also see these verbs ending in "-se" (like "vinieses" or "hablases"). This is another correct form that means exactly the same thing, but the "-ra" form is more common in most Spanish-speaking regions today.

Further explanations

Conjugation patterns