el pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

The subjunctive is used for wishes, likes and dislikes, necessity, doubt, possibility, emotion and fear, intentions, etc.

The imperfect subjunctive is used when the first/other part of the sentence is in the conditional or a past tense.

(Present subjunctive is used when the first/other part of the sentence is in the present, future, or imperative.)

 

present 3rd person plural   drop ‘on’ +	all verbs
yo	-a
tú	-as
usted, él/ella	-a
nosotros/as	-amos
vosotros/as	-ais
ustedes, ellos/ellas	-an

The nosotros (‘amos’) conjugation often needs an accent on the previous vowel to maintain the stress pattern, e.g., fuéramos.

 

Si lloviera más, plantaría unas verduras – If it rained more, I would plant some vegetables  (imperfect subjunctive ↔ conditional)

Quisiera tres semanas de vacaciones – I would like three weeks of vacation

No conocía a nadie que viviera en Madrid – I didn’t know anyone who lived in Madrid

Quería que vinieras a mi fiesta – I wanted you to come (that you would have come) to my party

Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría – If I were you, I wouldn’t do it

Era/Sería bueno que Juan me leyera el libro – It was/it would be good that Juan read the book to me