Term
| Uses and features: The main difference between the use of the present subjunctive and the imperfect subjunctive is the time of action |
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Definition
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Term
| If the main clause is in the present tense, and if the subordinate clause refers to the past, then the imperfect subjunctive in the dependent clause is normally called for |
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Definition
Es posible que mis amigos fueran al espectáculo - It's possible that my friends went to the show
Niego que Matilde estuviera aquí ayer - I deny that Matilde was here yesterday |
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Term
| If the main clause is in the past tens, then the past subjunctive in the subordinate clause is normally called for |
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Definition
Yo quería que mis amigos fueral al espectáculo - I wanted my friends to go to the show
Era necesario que Juanita dijera la verdad - It was necessary that Juanita tell the truth |
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Term
| In contrary-to-fact clauses (si clauses), use the imperfect subjunctive if the main clause is in the conditional tense |
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Definition
Si yo fuera rico, yo compraría un palacio - If I were rich, I would buy a place
Si ella tuviera mucho tiempo, iría a Guatemala por un año - If she had a lot of time, she would go to Guatemala for a year |
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Term
| You use the imperfect subjunctive in main clauses if you want to make a polite request. This usage is normally restricted to the imperfect subjunctive of two verbs: querer and poder |
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Definition
Pudiera Ud. ayudarme? - could you help me?
Yo quisiera ir al teatro - I would like to go to the theater |
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Term
| In as if cluases (como si), use the imperfect subjunctive |
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Definition
él estudia como si tuviera un examen - He is studying as if he had a test
Ella vivió como si estuviera muy contenta - She lived as if she were very happy |
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Term
| To form the imperfect subjunctive, take the third person plural of the preterit tense of all verbs: |
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Definition
hablaron
comieron
vivieron
midieron
durmieron
quisieron
dijeron
fueron |
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Term
| Remove the -ron to get the stem for the imperfect subjunctive tense. Alternative endings are seen in literary works |
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Definition
hablara/ hablase
hablaras/ hablases
hablara/hablase
habláramos/hablásemos
hablaran/hablasen |
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Term
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Definition
comiera
comieras
comiera
comiéramos
comieran |
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Term
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Definition
viviera
vivieras
viviera
viviéramos
vivieran |
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Term
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Definition
me lavara
te lavaras
se lavara
nos laváramos
se lavaran |
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Term
| With the imperfect subjunctive, there is only one simple past tense. Even though there are two different forms, these forms have the same meaning. For this reason, the imperfect subjunctive may correspond, depending on the context of the sentence, to the preterit or imperfect indicative. |
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Definition
Es posible que lloviera - It's possible that it was raining
Dudo que Ramon se levantara temprano - I doubt that Ramon got up early |
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Term
| If there is a past tense in the main clause, then the verb in the subordinate clause will be in the past (imperfect subjunctive). |
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Definition
Pilar quería que Camilo fuera a la tienda - Pilar wanted Camilo to go to the store
Era probable que Monica diera un paseo en el parque - It was probable that Monica took a walk in the park |
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Term
| Hay - there is, there are |
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Definition
hubiera - there was/there were, there might be
Dudábamos que hubiera un examen - We feared that there was an exam
Ella temía que no hubiera bebidas en la fiesta - She feared that there were no drinks at the party |
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Term
| Hay que - One must, it is necessary to |
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Definition
Hubiera que - it was necessary to, it might be necessary to
Yo no creía que hubiera que conjugar los verbos españoles - I didn't think that it was necessary to conjugate Spanish verbs |
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Term
| Clauses that begin with si/if are sometimes called contrary to fact clauses, counter factuals, or hypothetical statements, because they refer to a situation that has not yet occured |
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Definition
Si tengo el dinero, iré a Guatemala - If I have the money, I will go to Guatemala
Si veo a Roberto, le daré el dinero a él - If I see Roberto, I will give him the money |
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Term
| Contrary to fact sentences |
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Definition
Si yo tuviera mucho dinero, yo iría a la Ciudad de Guatemala - If I had a lot of money, I would go to Guatemala city
Si hiciera calor, yo nadaría en el Mar Caribe - If it were hot, I would swim in the Caribbean
Eva compraría un coche nuevo, si ella tuviera un empleo - Eva would buy a new car, if she had a job |
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Term
| The verbs querer and poder may be used in the imperfect subjunctive tense. They may be used alone and they don't have to be in a subordinate clause. When they are used this way, they are "polite" ways of making a request. |
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Definition
Pudiera traerme la sopa del día? - Could you bring me the soup of the day?
Yo quisiera una cerveza - I would like a beer |
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Term
Como si/ as if
The main clause may be in the present, the conditional, or the past tense |
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Definition
Ellos corrieron como si fueran culpables - They ran as if they were guilty
Carlos habló como si él lo supiera todo - Carlos spoke as if he knew everything
Canté como si you fuera Julio Iglesias - I sang as if I were Julio Iglesias |
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