Imperfect Subjunctive

Question 1

The imperfect subjunctive is just like the present subjunctive, but it is in the past
I hoped that Ricardo had the book.

Answer 1

Esperaba que Ricardo tuviera el libro

Question 2

Formation of the Imperfect Subjunctive

Drop the -ron from the 3rd person preterite, this is the base for all forms.
Hablaron...habla-
Comieron...comie-
Abrieron....abrie-
Tuvieron...tuvie-

Answer 2

Add either of these to the base:

• ra, ras, ra, ramos, rais, ran
• se, ses, se, semos, seis, sen

The es endings are more common

Hablara, hablaras, hablara, habláramos, hablarais, hablaron

Question 3

Main clause in the past

I wanted John to buy the towels

Answer 3

Yo quería que Juan comprara las toallas

Question 4

Main clause in the past

It was a pity that you had to work last Sunday

Answer 4

Fue una lástima que tuvieras que trabajar el domingo pasado

Question 5

Main clause in the past

They weren’t sure that I could take care of myself

Answer 5

No estaban seguros que pudiera cuidarme

Question 6

Main clause in the past

She prepared supper so that we wouldn’t die of hunger

Answer 6

Ella preparó la cena para que no nos muriéramos de hambre

Question 7

Main clause in the past

She studied in case there was an test the next day

Answer 7

Ella estudió en caso de que hubiera un examen el día siguiente

Question 8

Main clause in the past

He begged me not to order the lobster

Answer 8

Él me rogó que yo no pidiera la langosta

Question 9

Main clause in the past

We didn’t think anyone heard us

Answer 9

No pensamos (creímos) que nadie nos oyera.

Question 10

Main clause in the past

Was anybody there who knew all the state capitals?

Answer 10

¿Había alguien allí que supiera todas las capitales de los estados?

Question 11

Querer in preterite

Answer 11

Quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisieron,

Question 12

Hacer in preterite

Answer 12

Hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicieron,

Question 13

Poder in preterite

Answer 13

Pude, pudiste, pudo, pudimos, pudieron,

Question 14

She hopes that I didn’t spend all the money

Answer 14

Ella espera que yo no gastara todo el dinero

Question 15

I’m happy that he studied

Answer 15

Estoy contento que él estudiara

Question 16

They don’t believe that I made these cookies

Answer 16

Ellos no creen que yo hiciera estas galletas

Question 17

I’m sorry that you were sick and couldn’t make it to our party

Main clause in present, sub in past

Answer 17

Siento que estuvieras enfermo y que no pudieras venir a nuestra fiesta

Question 18

It doesn’t seem that them aid cleaned the house this morning

Main clause in present, sub in past

Answer 18

No parece que la sirvienta limpiara la casa esta mañana

Question 19

He behaves as if he were three years old

Main clause in present, sub in past

Answer 19

Él se porta como si tuviera tres años

Question 20

It may be that she didn’t want to take our picture

Main clause in present, sub in past

Answer 20

Puede ser que ella no quisiera sacar nuestra foto

Question 21

It’s a miracle that the airline didn’t lose your luggage

Main clause in present, sub in past

Answer 21

Es un milagro que la aerolínea no perdiera tu equipaje

Question 22

Hypothetical if-clauses in the past

1-often linked with the conditional indicative. “If I were taller, I would play basketball”
2-Only hypotheticals in the past are in the subjunctive

Answer 22

“Si yo fuera” más alto, jugaría al basquetbol

Recibías buenas notas “si estudiaras”

Question 23

If you knew the answer, would you tell us?

Answer 23

¿Si supieras la repuesta, nos la dirías.

Question 24

If giraffes didn’t have long necks, they couldn’t eat leaves.

Answer 24

Si las jirafas no tuvieran los cuellos largos, no podrían comer las hojas.

Question 25

If it weren’t for gravity, we would float like bubbles.

Answer 25

Si no fuera por la gravedad, flotaríamos como burbujas.

Question 26

The bears wouldn’t eat your food if you hung it from a tree.

Answer 26

Los osos no comerían tu comida si la colgaras de un árbol.

Question 27

If it weren’t raining, we could take a walk in the park.

Answer 27

Si no lloviera, podríamos dar un paseo por el parque

Question 28

“As if” and A”As though” clauses

A subordinate clause that begins with “Como si” is in the imperfect subjunctive

Answer 28

Te ves como si fueras culpable. You look as if you’re guilty.

Hablaban como si supieran todo. They were talking as if they knew everything.
Él se puso el sombrero como si fuera el rey. He put on the hat as though he were the king.

Question 29

He spends money as if there were no tomorrow

Answer 29

Él gasta dinero como si no hubiera mañana

Question 30

He looks as if he lost his best friend.

Answer 30

Él se ve como si perdiera a su amigo mejor

Question 31

The critic looked as though he liked the play.

Answer 31

El crítico se ve como si le gustara la drama.

Question 32

You sing as though you swallowed a bird

Answer 32

Cantas como si tragaras un pájaro (ave).

Question 33

He felt as if he already knew her.

Answer 33

Él se sintió como si ya la conociera.

Question 34

He spoke to me as though I didn’t have a brain

Answer 34

Él me habló como si yo no tuviera cerebro.

Question 35

Querer- use imperfect subjunctive to be polite and to not sound pushy

I would like a cold lemonade, please

Answer 35

Yo quisiera una limonada fría, por favor.

Question 36

Querer- use imperfect subjunctive to be polite and to not sound pushy

What would you like to do tonight?

Answer 36

Que quisieras hacer esta noche?

Question 37

Querer- use imperfect subjunctive to be polite and to not sound pushy

We would like a room with a view of the river.

Answer 37

Quisiéramos una habitación con una vista al río.

Question 38

Querer- use imperfect subjunctive to be polite and to not sound pushy

Where would you all like to eat tomorrow?

Answer 38

Donde quisieran cenar mañana por la noche?

Question 39

Poder- use it in the imperfect subjunctive plus the following verb in the conditional to be polite. Begin with “Si”

Could you mail these letter for me?

Answer 39

Si pudieras, echarías al correo estas cartas para me?

Question 40

Poder- use it in the imperfect subjunctive plus the following verb in the conditional to be polite. Begin with “Si”

Would you do me a favor?

Answer 40

Si pudieras, me harías un favor?

Question 41

Poder- use it in the imperfect subjunctive plus the following verb in the conditional to be polite. Begin with “Si”

Could you move a little to the right?

Answer 41

Si pudieras, te moverías un poco a la derecha?

Question 42

Poder- use it in the imperfect subjunctive plus the following verb in the conditional to be polite. Begin with “Si”

Could you be quiet please?

Answer 42

Si pudieras, te callarías, por favor?

Question 43

Poder- use it in the imperfect subjunctive plus the following verb in the conditional to be polite. Begin with “Si”

Could you (formal) make me a cup of coffee?

Answer 43

Si pudiera, me prepararía una taza de café?

Question 44

I wish that more people would ride a bike instead of driving all the time

Answer 44

Yo quisiera que más personas montarán en bicicleta en vez de conducir todo el tiempo.

Question 45

Querer meaning to wish
If there is no change in subject after the conjugated form of querer, then follow it with the infinitive

I wish I made more money

Answer 45

Yo quisiera ganar más dinero

Question 46

Querer meaning to wish
If there is a change of subject between the conjugated querer, it is followed by “que” and the imperfect subjunctive of the second verb

I wished that you were here

Answer 46

Yo quisiera que estuvieras aquí

Question 47

I wish that you didn’t have to hear this.

Answer 47

Yo quisiera que no tuvieras que oír esto.

Question 48

Children always wish that they were were older and adults, younger

Answer 48

Los niños siempre quisieran ser mayores y los adultos menores

Question 49

I wish that I spoke Spanish fluently

Answer 49

Yo quisiera hablar español con soltura (skill, with ease)

Question 50

He wishes that he could drive

Answer 50

Él quisiera poder manejar.

Question 51

He wishes he could see through walls

Answer 51

Él quisiera poder ver a través de las paredes

Question 52

We wish they would go home

Answer 52

Quisiéramos que se fueran a casa