The Spanish Past Subjunctive

What is the past subjunctive?

It's the same subjunctive, with the same triggers, just shifted into the past. When the trigger is in the past, the subjunctive after it moves to the past too.

1. Present subjunctivePast subjunctive
2. Present subjunctive

   Quiero que vengas.

   I want you to come.

   Past subjunctive

   Quería que vinieras.

   I wanted you to come.

3. Present subjunctive

   Espero que llegue bien.

   I hope she gets there safely.

   Past subjunctive

   Esperaba que llegara bien.

   I hoped she would get there safely.

4. Present subjunctive

   Me alegro de que estén aquí.

   I’m glad you’re all here.

   Past subjunctive

   Me alegré de que estuvieran aquí.

   I was glad you were all here.

It also has a few jobs of its own, like “if” sentences about things that aren't real (more below).

How to form the past subjunctive

The past subjunctive is built from the ellos form of the preterite. Drop the ‑ron and add the ending.

Irregular verbs

Starting from the preterite means every irregular preterite carries over. If you already know your preterite irregulars well, there's nothing new to learn.

This means the stem changes and spelling changes carry over too:

Here some full examples:

The ‑se forms

The past subjunctive has a second set of endings: ‑se instead of ‑ra. The two mean the same thing and can be swapped in almost any sentence.

When to use the past subjunctive

1. 1

   After a trigger in the past

   • quería que
   • esperaba que
   • me alegré de que
   • no creía que

   Any subjunctive trigger, when it’s in the preterite or the imperfect.

   • Mis padres querían que estudiara medicina.

     My parents wanted me to study medicine.

   • Me alegré de que vinieras.

     I was glad you came.

   • No creíamos que fuera verdad.

     We didn’t think it was true.

2. 2

   After a trigger in the conditional

   • me gustaría que
   • preferiría que
   • sería mejor que

   Wishes and suggestions that are softened with “would.”

   • Me gustaría que vinieras conmigo.

     I’d like you to come with me.

   • Sería mejor que habláramos mañana.

     It would be better if we talked tomorrow.

   • Preferiría que no se lo dijeras a nadie.

     I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone.

3. 3

   “If” sentences about unreal situations

   Things that aren’t true, or aren’t likely. The other half of the sentence is usually the conditional.

   • Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría más.

     If I had time, I’d travel more.

   • Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría.

     If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.

   • ¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería?

     What would you do if you won the lottery?

4. 4

   Unlikely wishes with ojalá

   With the present subjunctive, ojalá hopes for something possible. With the past, it wishes for something unlikely or impossible.

   • Ojalá tuviera más tiempo.

     I wish I had more time.

   • Ojalá estuvieras aquí.

     I wish you were here.

   • Ojalá no hiciera tanto calor.

     I wish it weren’t so hot.

5. 5

   As if

   "Como si" always takes the past subjunctive, even when the sentence is in the present.

   • Habla como si lo supiera todo.

     He talks as if he knew everything.

   • Me miran como si estuviera loco.

     They look at me as if I were crazy.

   • Actúan como si no pasara nada.

     They act as if nothing were happening.

6. 6

   Extra-polite requests

   "Quisiera" is an even softer way to say “I would like” than me gustaría.

   • Quisiera un café, por favor.

     I’d like a coffee, please.

   • Quisiera hablar con el director.

     I’d like to speak with the director.

   • Quisiéramos reservar una mesa para cuatro.

     We’d like to book a table for four.

Present or past subjunctive?

After a trigger, the tense of the trigger decides which subjunctive you use.

Common mistakes English speakers make

1. 1

   Using the conditional after si

   Incorrect:Si tendría tiempo, viajaría.

   Correct:Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría.

   The si half takes the past subjunctive. The conditional goes in the other half.

2. 2

   Using the present subjunctive after a past trigger

   Incorrect:Quería que vengas.

   Correct:Quería que vinieras.

   When the trigger is in the past, the subjunctive moves to the past too.

3. 3

   Building from the infinitive instead of the preterite

   Incorrect:Si teniera más dinero, viajaría.

   Correct:Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría.

   Start from the preterite: tuvieron → tuviera.

4. 4

   Forgetting the nosotros accent

   Incorrect:Ojalá pudieramos ir.

   Correct:Ojalá pudiéramos ir.

   The nosotros form always has an accent on the vowel before the ending.

5. 5

   Using the imperfect after como si

   Incorrect:Habla como si lo sabía todo.

   Correct:Habla como si lo supiera todo.

   Como si always takes the past subjunctive.

Questions about the past subjunctive