You already know that verbs expressing desires, requests, or demands trigger the subjunctive in a subordinate clause (for example, "I want you to pose" becomes Quiero que poses). But what happens when you recount these requests in the past?
Sequence of tenses
In Spanish, the tenses in a complex sentence need to agree. This is called the sequence of tenses (concordancia de tiempos). The rule is simple: if the triggering verb in the main clause is in a past tense—such as the preterite or the imperfect—the verb in the following que clause must be in the past subjunctive.
| The designer wanted the collection to be innovative. | El diseñador quería que la colección fuera innovadora. |
| The director demanded that the dress be innovative. | El director exigió que el vestido fuera innovador. |
Directing and instructing in the past
Behind the scenes of a high-stakes fashion show, directors and designers are constantly giving instructions. Verbs of influence like decir (to tell), sugerir (to suggest), and pedir (to ask) are classic subjunctive triggers. When you talk about these past instructions, those past-tense triggers force the next verb into the past subjunctive.
| I told the model to walk the runway today. | Le dije al modelo que desfilara por la pasarela hoy. |
| We suggested that they walk the runway together. | Les sugerimos que desfilaran juntos por la pasarela. |
| The photographer asked her to pose for the magazine. | El fotógrafo le pidió que posara para la revista. |
This rule applies in exactly the same way when recounting negative instructions. You simply place no directly before the past subjunctive verb.
| They told me not to pose with the tight dress. | Me dijeron que no posara con el vestido ajustado. |
