Imperfect Subjunctive: Complete Reference | Spanish (Latin America) Grammar

The imperfect subjunctive (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo) is the past-tense counterpart of the present subjunctive. It's used whenever a subjunctive trigger sits in a past-tense main clause, when you want to make a hypothetical "if" statement, when you compare reality with a counterfactual, and in polite formulas like quisiera.

This page synthesizes every imperfect subjunctive sub-topic. For the present tense side, see Present Subjunctive: Complete Reference.

Formation: The Third-Person-Plural Preterite Trick

There is one rule and it works for every verb in the language, regular or irregular, with no exceptions.

Take the third person plural (ellos) form of the preterite.
Drop the final -ron.
Add the imperfect subjunctive endings: either the -ra set or the -se set.

Verb	Preterite ellos	Stem	yo (imperfect subjunctive)
hablar	hablaron	habla-	hablara / hablase
comer	comieron	comie-	comiera / comiese
vivir	vivieron	vivie-	viviera / viviese
tener	tuvieron	tuvie-	tuviera / tuviese
ser / ir	fueron	fue-	fuera / fuese
decir	dijeron	dije-	dijera / dijese
dar	dieron	die-	diera / diese
leer	leyeron	leye-	leyera / leyese

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If you know the preterite, you already know the imperfect subjunctive. Every stem change, spelling change, and irregularity from the preterite rides straight into this tense. There is nothing extra to memorize.

The Two Endings: -ra and -se

Spanish has two equally valid sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive. Both mean the same thing.

Subject	-ra form	-se form	hablar (-ra)	hablar (-se)
yo	-ra	-se	hablara	hablase
tú	-ras	-ses	hablaras	hablases
él	-ra	-se	hablara	hablase
nosotros	-ramos	-semos	habláramos	hablásemos
ellos	-ran	-sen	hablaran	hablasen

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The nosotros form has a written accent on the vowel before the -ra/-se ending. So it's habláramos, comiéramos, viviéramos, tuviéramos. Easy to forget.

Which One to Use?

-ra is by far the most common in Latin American spoken and written Spanish.
-se is heard more in Spain and in formal writing.
Both are accepted; in neutral speech, always default to -ra.

Quería que vinieras temprano.

I wanted you to come early.

Quería que vinieses temprano.

I wanted you to come early. (same meaning, -se form)

See -ra Forms, -se Forms, and -ra vs -se.

Irregular Verbs Inherit from the Preterite

Because the formula starts from the ellos preterite, every irregular from that tense appears here unchanged.

Verb	Preterite ellos	Imperfect Subjunctive (yo)
tener	tuvieron	tuviera / tuviese
estar	estuvieron	estuviera / estuviese
poder	pudieron	pudiera / pudiese
poner	pusieron	pusiera / pusiese
saber	supieron	supiera / supiese
andar	anduvieron	anduviera / anduviese
haber	hubieron	hubiera / hubiese
caber	cupieron	cupiera / cupiese
hacer	hicieron	hiciera / hiciese
querer	quisieron	quisiera / quisiese
venir	vinieron	viniera / viniese
decir	dijeron	dijera / dijese
traer	trajeron	trajera / trajese
conducir	condujeron	condujera / condujese
ser / ir	fueron	fuera / fuese
dar	dieron	diera / diese
ver	vieron	viera / viese
leer	leyeron	leyera / leyese
dormir	durmieron	durmiera / durmiese
pedir	pidieron	pidiera / pidiese

See Irregular Verbs.

Use 1: Past-Tense Triggers

Every trigger from the present subjunctive (WEIRDO, adjective clauses, adverbial clauses) still fires the subjunctive when the main clause is in the past. The difference is that the dependent clause shifts to the imperfect subjunctive.

Main clause tense	Dependent clause
Present / Future / Imperative / Present Perfect	Present Subjunctive
Preterite / Imperfect / Pluperfect / Conditional	Imperfect Subjunctive

Quería que vinieras temprano.

I wanted you to come early.

El profesor nos pidió que estudiáramos más.

The teacher asked us to study more.

Era importante que llegaras a tiempo.

It was important that you arrived on time.

Dudaba que pudiéramos terminar el proyecto.

I doubted we could finish the project.

Me alegré de que estuvieras en la fiesta.

I was glad you were at the party.

Buscaba un apartamento que tuviera jardín.

I was looking for an apartment that had a garden.

Le dije que viniera antes de las ocho.

I told him to come before eight.

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This is called the sequence of tenses rule. It's nearly mechanical: past main clause → past subjunctive. Once you internalize it, you never have to think about it again.

See Past Triggers and Sequence of Tenses.

Use 2: Si-Clauses (Hypothetical Present)

To express what you would do in a hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situation in the present, combine si + imperfect subjunctive in the condition clause with the conditional in the result clause.

Condition (si clause)	Result
si + imperfect subjunctive	conditional

Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo.

If I had money, I would travel the world.

Si supiera la respuesta, te la diría.

If I knew the answer, I would tell you.

Si estuviera en tu lugar, no aceptaría ese trabajo.

If I were in your place, I wouldn't accept that job.

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The order is flexible — you can put the si clause first or second — but the verb forms never swap: si always pairs with the imperfect subjunctive, and the conditional lives in the other half.

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Never use the present subjunctive directly after si. ❌ si tenga → ✅ si tuviera. This is one of the most common learner mistakes at B2.

See Si-Clauses.

Use 3: Como Si (As If / As Though)

Como si is always followed by the imperfect subjunctive (or the pluperfect subjunctive for past reference), regardless of the tense of the main clause.

Me trata como si fuera su hijo.

He treats me as if I were his son.

Habla como si supiera todo.

He talks as if he knew everything.

Caminaba como si estuviera cansado.

He was walking as if he were tired.

See Como Si.

Use 4: Polite Quisiera, Pudiera, Debiera

The imperfect subjunctive of querer, poder, and deber is used as an extra-polite version of the present — more formal than quiero, more courteous than quería.

Verb	Polite form	Typical use
querer	quisiera	I would like...
poder	pudiera	Could (you)...?
deber	debiera	(You) ought to...

Quisiera un café con leche, por favor.

I would like a coffee with milk, please.

¿Pudiera ayudarme un momento?

Could you help me for a moment?

Debieras descansar más.

You ought to rest more.

See Quisiera.

Pluperfect Subjunctive

The pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera/hubiese + participle) expresses actions that had happened in a subjunctive context, or that would have happened in a counterfactual past.

Subject	haber (impf. subj.)	participle
yo	hubiera / hubiese	hubiera hablado
tú	hubieras / hubieses	hubieras comido
él	hubiera / hubiese	hubiera vivido
nosotros	hubiéramos / hubiésemos	hubiéramos hecho
ellos	hubieran / hubiesen	hubieran venido

Me alegré de que hubieras llegado bien.

I was glad that you had arrived safely.

No creía que hubieran terminado tan rápido.

I didn't think they had finished so fast.

See Pluperfect Formation and Pluperfect Usage.

Si-Clauses Type 3 (Counterfactual Past)

To express what would have happened in the past if something had been different, combine the pluperfect subjunctive with the conditional perfect (or another pluperfect subjunctive).

Condition (si clause)	Result
si + pluperfect subjunctive	conditional perfect or pluperfect subjunctive

Si hubiera estudiado más, habría aprobado el examen.

If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.

Si me hubieras llamado, te habría esperado.

If you had called me, I would have waited for you.

Si no hubiera llovido, habríamos ido a la playa.

If it hadn't rained, we would have gone to the beach.

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In Latin American Spanish, the -ra form of the pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera hecho) is often used in place of the conditional perfect in the result clause: si hubiera estudiado, hubiera aprobado. Both are correct.

See Si-Clauses Type 3.

Summary: The Three Types of Si-Clauses

Type	Meaning	Si clause	Result clause
Type 1	Real possibility	si + present indicative	future / present / imperative
Type 2	Unreal present	si + imperfect subjunctive	conditional
Type 3	Unreal past	si + pluperfect subjunctive	conditional perfect (or pluperfect subjunctive)

Si llueve mañana, me quedo en casa.

If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home. (Type 1 — real)

Si lloviera mañana, me quedaría en casa.

If it rained tomorrow, I'd stay home. (Type 2 — unreal present)

Si hubiera llovido ayer, me habría quedado en casa.

If it had rained yesterday, I would have stayed home. (Type 3 — unreal past)

Study Checklist

Nail the formation trick: ellos preterite minus -ron plus -ra/-se.
Default to -ra in Latin American Spanish.
Memorize the sequence of tenses: past main → past subjunctive.
Drill the three types of si-clauses side by side until the triggering words (presente, imperfecto de subjuntivo, pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) feel automatic.
Add como si, quisiera, and pluperfect subjunctive as extensions once the core is solid.
Revisit Present Subjunctive: Complete Reference whenever you're unsure which trigger applies.