One of the most challenging aspects of Spanish for many learners is mastering the subjunctive mood and its inflections. In the past we have written about the most commonly used form, the present subjunctive, however Spanish also has a past subjunctive, also known as the imperfect subjunctive, which plays a vital role in expressing hypotheticals, emotions, and uncertainties related to past events. Additionally, there exists an archaic future subjunctive form which is really only found in classic literature and religious legal texts. This comprehensive guide will break down the past subjunctive, its formation, and its uses, while also briefly introducing the now-obsolete future subjunctive.

What is the Past Subjunctive in Spanish?

The past subjunctive in Spanish is used to describe hypothetical or uncertain actions in the past. It frequently appears in dependent clauses that follow verbs expressing doubt, emotion, desire, necessity, or hypothetical conditions. Understanding when and how to use it correctly can significantly improve fluency and comprehension.

How to Form the Past Subjunctive

The past subjunctive is formed by taking the third-person plural (ellos/ellas) form of the preterite tense, dropping the "-ron" ending (for example removing the ending from “comieron” - they eat - leaves us with “comie”), and then adding the appropriate subjunctive endings. There are two sets of endings that can be used interchangeably: the "-ra" and "-se" forms). The “-ra” form is more commonly used, especially in modern everyday speech and writing, but it is far from uncommon to hear both forms being used and it would not be wrong to use either. The "-se" is used quite often in older and some modern literature and having access to both helps elevate the poetic possibilities for writers of all kinds.

Common Uses of the Past Subjunctive

Expressing Hypothetical or Unreal Situations in the Past:

Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo.
(If I had money, I would travel the world.)

Desires, Emotions, or Doubts in the Past:

Esperaba que vinieras a la fiesta.
(I was hoping you would come to the party.)

Dudaba que él pudiera terminar a tiempo.
(I doubted that he could finish on time.)

Politeness or Formality in Requests:

Quisiera pedirle un favor.
(I would like to ask you a favor.)

Reported Speech in the Past:

Me dijo que no creyera en esas noticias.
(He told me not to believe in that news.)

Conditional Sentences in the Past:

Si supieras la verdad, cambiarías de opinión.
(If you knew the truth, you would change your mind.)

Past Subjunctive in Different Contexts

Past Subjunctive in "If" Clauses

Conditional sentences using "si" (if) often require the past subjunctive when referring to hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions.

Si fuera más joven, aprendería otro idioma.
(If I were younger, I would learn another language.)
Si supieras cuánto trabajé, me entenderías.
(If you knew how much I worked, you would understand me.)

**The Past Subjunctive with "Ojalá"**

The word ojalá (hopefully) often introduces the past subjunctive when referring to past events that one wishes had been different.

Ojalá hubiera estudiado más para el examen.
(I wish I had studied more for the exam.)

Subjunctive in Relative Clauses

The past subjunctive can also be used to describe people or things that were unknown or nonexistent in the past.

Buscaba un libro que me ayudara a entender matemáticas.
(I was looking for a book that would help me understand math.)

The Future Subjunctive: A Grammatical Relic

While the past subjunctive is commonly used, the future subjunctive (futuro de subjuntivo) is virtually obsolete in modern Spanish. However, it still appears in legal documents and laws in many Spanish speaking countries, literary works, and some traditional expressions particularly those of a religious/biblical origin.

Why Did the Future Subjunctive Disappear?

The future subjunctive began to decline in use during the late Middle Ages As Spanish evolved, speakers found other ways to express hypothetical future actions, including using the present subjunctive or simple future tense, rendering the form unnecessary.

Formation of the Future Subjunctive

Like the past subjunctive, the future subjunctive is formed by taking the third-person plural of the preterite tense, dropping the "-ron" ending, and adding:

-re, -res, -re, -remos, -reis, -ren

For example, the verb hablar would be conjugated as:

hablare, hablares, hablare, habláremos, hablareis, hablaren

Essentially the only difference from the imperfect "-ra" form is replacing the a with an e in the conjugation.

Examples in Literature and Legal Texts

Although obsolete in everyday speech, the future subjunctive remains in legal documents and old religious and literary texts. For example:

El que creyere en mí, tendrá vida eterna.
(He who believes in me will have eternal life.)
Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres.
(Wherever you go, do as you see.)

These examples illustrate the archaic yet poetic nature of the future subjunctive.

Conclusion

Mastering the past subjunctive is essential for advanced Spanish learners, as it is widely used in conditional statements, polite expressions, and hypothetical situations. While the future subjunctive is no longer common, understanding its role in historical texts enriches one's grasp of the language’s evolution. For more guidance on the subjunctive mood, check out our article on Spanish Subjunctive 101.

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Beyond the Present Subjunctive: Mastering the Past and Ignoring the Future