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Uses of the Imperfect Subjunctive (Usos del Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)

Advanced III

61. Uses of the Imperfect Subjunctive (English)

This lesson includes information on:

Imperfect Subjunctive with Past Tense
Imperfect Subjunctive with Present Tense
Imperfect Subjunctive with Conditional Tense
Imperfect Subjunctive with Si (If)
Imperfect Subjunctive After Como Si
Related Vocabulary

1. Imperfect Subjunctive with Past Tense

The imperfect subjunctive is used when:

· the main clause is in the past or imperfect tense

· the action in the dependent clause happened in the past

For example:

Spanish	English
Esperaba que regresaras.	I hoped that you returned.

2. Imperfect Subjunctive with Present Tense

The imperfect subjunctive is used when:

· the main clause is in the present tense

· the dependent clause refers to an action in the past

For example:

Spanish	English
Me alegro que regresaras contento.	I am happy that you returned happy.

3. Imperfect Subjunctive with Conditional Tense

The imperfect subjunctive is used when:

· the main clause is in the past or imperfect tense

· the action in the dependent clause happened in the past

For example:

Spanish	English
Ella necesitaría una amiga que cuidara el perro.	She would need a friend to take care of the dog.

4. Imperfect Subjunctive with Si (If)

The imperfect subjunctive tense is used when:

· the subordinate clause is related to the principle clause with the conjunction si (if)

· we want to express an unreal or contrary condition to the present reality

For example:

Spanish	English
Compraría muchos zapatos si tuviera dinero (pero no lo tengo).	I would buy many shoes if I had money (but I don’t have any).
Si tuviera dinero, compraría muchos zapatos.	If I had money, I would buy many shoes.

5. Imperfect Subjunctive After Como Si (As if)

The imperfect subjunctive tense is used:

· after the expression como si (as if)

For example:

Spanish	English
Actúa como si estuviera cansada.	He acts as if he were tired.

6. Related Vocabulary

Spanish	English
Si	If
Como sí	As if
El avión de caza	Fighter plane
El bombardero	Bomber
La bomba	Bomb
El paracaídas	Parachute
El barco de guerra	Battleship
El portaviones	Aircraft carrier
El submarino	Submarine
El periscopio	Periscope
El jeep	Jeep
El tanque	Tank
El cañón	Cannon, gun barrel
La torre blindada de armas	Gun turret
La marina	Navy
El marinero	Sailor
El ejército	Army
La marina	Marines
El marino	Marine
La Fuerza Aérea	Air Force
El aviador	Airman
El rifle	Rifle
El gatillo	Trigger
La pistola	Gun, pistol
La bayoneta	Bayonet
La ametralladora	Machine gun
La bala	Bullet
El casquillo	Shell
El mortero	Mortar
La granada	Hand grenade
El arma	Weapon
El limpia calles	Street cleaner
La grúa	Tow truck
El carro tanque	Fuel truck
La camioneta	Pickup truck, bus
La pala de nieve	Snow plow
El camión de la basura	Garbage truck
El empleado de limpieza	Sanitation worker
El camión	Truck
El carro de mudanza	Moving van
La mezcladora de cemento	Cement truck
El camión de volteo	Dump truck
La persona de entrega	Delivery person
El trailer	Tractor trailer
El porta autos	Transporter
El acoplado	Flatbed