NOTES
(from Duolingo)
The Subjunctive Imperfect is used in similar situations to the present subjunctive (wishes, hopes, emotions, doubts, orders, etc.), but is set off by a verb in the past.
When preceded by a past tense verb, the imperfect subjunctive indicates an action occurring at the same time or after the main verb.
- Volevo che fosse vero. (I wanted it to be true.)
- Non credevamo che Anna avesse paura. (We didn’t believe that Anna was afraid.)
Occasionally you will see the imperfect subjunctive following a present tense verb to show an action occurring before the main verb:
- Non credo che ci fosse. (I don’t think he was there.)
Another use of the imperfect subjunctive is in “if” statements. You use the imperfect subjunctive after se when referring to a hypothetical situation. Sometimes these are called “contrary-to-fact” statements, because they describe something different from reality. In these cases, the imperfect subjunctive is paired with the conditional.
- Se fossi miliardaria, comprerei un castello. (If I were a billionaire, I would buy a castle.)
- Se i cani parlassero, cosa direbbero di noi? (If dogs talked, what would they say about us?)
TIP: We may notice that in English we also use a past tense for these hypothetical statements. We just have to remember to use the past subjunctive in Italian.
| -ARE | -ERE | -IRE | |
| io | -assi | -essi | -issi |
| tu | -assi | -essi | -issi |
| lui,lei | -asse | -esse | -isse |
| noi | -assimo | -essimo | -issimo |
| voi | -aste | -este | -iste |
| loro | -assero | -essero | -issero |
| PARLARE | VEDERE | CAPIRE | |
| (che) io | parlassi | vedessi | capissi |
| (che) tu | parlassi | vedessi | capissi |
| (che) lui,lei | parlasse | vedesse | capisse |
| (che) noi | parlassimo | vedessimo | capissimo |
| (che) voi | parlaste | vedeste | capiste |
| (che) loro | parlassero | vedessero | capissero |
VOCABULARY
(by DuoItalian)
| facessi | (I/you) did, made |
| facesse | he did, made |
| avessi | (I/you) had |
| avesse | he had |
| venissi | (I/you) came |
| venisse | he came |
| volessi | (I/you) wanted |
| volesse | he wanted |
| volessimo | we wanted |
| fossimo | we were |
| potesse | he could |
| stessero | they stayed |
| desse | he gave |
| vedessi | (I/you) saw |
| vedesse | he saw |
| vedeste | you (all) saw |
| trovasse | he found |
| trovassimo | we found |
| dicessimo | we said |
| dicessero | they said |
| sapessero | they knew (something) |
| andassi | (I/you) went |
| andasse | he went |
| parlassi | (I/you) talked |
| parlasse | he talked |
| portassimo | we brought |
| arrivasse | he arrived |
| prendessi | (I/you) took |
| mettessero | they put |
| chiedesse | he asked |
| diventassi | (I/you) became |
| tenesse | he kept |
| credesse | he believed |
| capissi | (I/you) understood |
| usasse | he used |
| chiamasse | he called |
| entrasse | he entered |
| parlaste | you (all) liked |
| ricordasse | he remembered |
| capiste | you (all) understood |
| vivesse | he lived |
| lavorasse | he worked |
| seguissero | they followed |
| guardasse | he watched |
| aprissi | (I/you) opened |
| aspettasse | he waited |
| morissi | (I/you) died |
| decidesse | he decided |
| leggessero | they read |
| scrivesse | he wrote |
| cambiasse | he changed |
| finissero | they finished |
| unisse | he joined |
| giocasse | he played |
| offrissi | (I/you) offered |
| succedesse | it happened |
| costruissero | they built |
| perdessimo | we lost |
| provassimo | we tired |
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