Imperfect Subjunctive

Question 1

He insisted that I finish straight away.

Answer 1

Él insistió en que yo terminara enseguida.

(the imperfect subjunctive is used with the past tense or conditional)

Question 2

She forbade us drinking coffee.

Answer 2

Ella prohibió que nosotros bebiéramos café.

prohibir → to forbid

Question 3

They used to prefer that we didn’t sing.

Answer 3

Ellos preferían que nosotros no cantáramos.

Question 4

He preferred that you live with a family.

(to a friend)

Answer 4

Él prefirió que tú vivieras con una familia.

Question 5

His father insisted that Juan study.

Answer 5

Su padre insistió en que Juan estudiara.

Question 6

He used to advise me that I leave early.

Answer 6

Él me aconsejaría que yo saliera temprano.

Question 7

The professor used to not want us to translate the poetry.

Answer 7

El profesor no quería que nosotros tradujéramos la poesía.

Question 8

She wrote them that they return right away.

Answer 8

Ella les escribió que volvieran enseguida.

Question 9

The professor demanded that everyone go to the reunion.

Answer 9

El profesor exigió que todos fueran a la reunión.

Question 10

He used to insist that you speak in Spanish.

(to a friend)

Answer 10

Él insistiría en que tú le hablaras en español.

Question 11

He used to insist on that we learn Spanish.

Answer 11

Insistió en que aprendiéramos español.

insistir en que → to insist on that

Question 12

I preferred that they bought it.

Answer 12

Preferí que lo Uds. lo compraran.

Question 13

They ordered that the waiter serve the food.

Answer 13

Mandaron que el camarero sirviera la comida.

Question 14

They used to want that he ate more.

Answer 14

Querían que él comiera más.

Question 15

She used to be afraid that you didn’t know it.

Answer 15

Ella tendría miedo de que Ud. no lo supiera.

tener miedo de que → to be afraid that

Question 16

He used to advise you not to leave.

(to a friend)

Answer 16

Él te aconsejaría que no salieras.

Question 17

It used to be necessary (exact) that we live in this neighbourhood.

Answer 17

Era preciso que nosotros viviéramos en este barrio.

ser preciso que → be necessary that

(the imperfect subjunctive is used after impersonal expressions when the main verb is in the imperfect, preterite, or conditional)

Question 18

It used to be best that he knew nothing of the kind.

Answer 18

Sería mejor que él no supiera nada de eso.

nada de eso → nothing of the kind

Question 19

It used to be doubtful that he pay the bill.

Answer 19

Era dudoso que él pagara la cuenta.

Question 20

It was necessary that I didn’t say anything.

Answer 20

Fue necesario que yo no dijera nada.

Question 21

It used to be impossible that she speak to you in dialect.

(to a friend)

Answer 21

Era imposible que ella te hablara en dialecto.

Question 22

It used to be advisable that you learn the language.

(to a friend)

Answer 22

Sería aconsejable que tú aprendieras el idioma.

ser aconsejable que → to be advisable that

Question 23

She used to be looking for a secretary that speaks Spanish.

Answer 23

Ella buscaba una secretaria que hablara español.

(the imperfect subjunctive is used in defining relative clauses (they give essential information about someone or something in order to understand what or who is being referred to) modifying an indefinite antecendent (singular pronouns) when the verb is in the imperfect, preterite, or conditional)

Question 24

He used to have a secretary who spoke Spanish.

Answer 24

Él tenía una secretaria que hablaba español.

Question 25

I used to want to read a book that deals with the war.

Answer 25

Yo quería leer un libro que tratara de la guerra.

tratar de → to deal with; to be about

Question 26

I read a book that was extremely interesting.

Answer 26

Yo leí un libro que era sumamente interesante.

Question 27

We were needing a house that was close to the city.

Answer 27

Necesitábamos una casa que estuviera cerca de la ciudad.

Question 28

I saw the paintings that were removed from the museum.

Answer 28

Yo miré los cuadros que sacaron del museo.