Imperfect Subjunctive III

Notes:

  1. The written lesson is below.
  2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

 

In the Imperfect Subjunctive II, you learned how to conjugate verbs in the Imperfect Subjunctive, using both types of conjugations, the -A type and the -SE type.

In this lesson we will be covering the imperfect subjunctive of stem-changing verbs.

We know that in Spanish there are three kinds of verbs according to their ending:

1. -ar verbs
2. -er verbs
3. -ir verbs

-ar and -er verbs do not change the stem in the preterite. Therefore, there is no change in the stem of the imperfect subjunctive:

Repasar (to review)Barrer (to sweep)
3rd person pluralrepasaronbarrieron
Therefore the stem is:repasarbarrier
yorepasarabarriera
repasarasbarrieras
él/ella/Ud.repasarabarriera
nosotrosrepasáramosbarriéramos
vosotrosrepasaraisbarrierais
ellos/ellas/Uds.repasaranbarrieran

-ir verbs, however, change the stem in the preterite in both the third person singular and plural. Therefore, the spelling of the imperfect subjunctive is affected.

There are three different stem-changing groups within the -ir verbs:

1. e>ie stem-changing -ir verbs: the e of the stem changes into i in the third person plural of the preterite.

Sentir (to feel)
3rd person pluralsintieron
Therefore the stem is:sintier
yosintiera
sintieras
él/ella/Ud.sintiera
nosotrossintiéramos
vosotrossintierais
ellos/ellas/Uds.sintieran

If there are two es in the stem, it is the second e that changes:

Preferir (to prefer)
3rd person pluralprefirieron
Therefore the stem is:prefirier
yoprefiriera
prefirieras
él/ella/Ud.prefiriera
nosotrosprefiriéramos
vosotrosprefirierais
ellos/ellas/Uds.prefirieran

2. e>i stem-changing -ir verbs: the e of the stem changes into an i.

Pedir(to ask for)
3rd person pluralpidieron
Therefore the stem is:pidier
yopidiera
pidieras
él/ella/Ud.pidiera
nosotrospidiéramos
vosotrospidierais
ellos/ellas/Uds.pidieran

If there are two es in the stem, it is the second e that changes:

Repetir(to repeat)
3rd person pluralrepitieron
Therefore the stem is:repitier
yorepitiera
repitieras
él/ella/Ud.repitiera
nosotrosrepitiéramos
vosotrosrepitierais
ellos/ellas/Uds.repitieran

3. o>u stem-changing -ir verbs: the o of the stem changes to u.

Dormir(to sleep)
3rd person pluraldurmieron
Therefore the stem is:durmier
yodurmiera
durmieras
él/ella/Ud.durmiera
nosotrosdurmiéramos
vosotrosdurmierais
ellos/ellas/Uds.durmieran