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Italian Grammar Lessons: Subjunctive Imperfect

Like the subjunctive past, the subjunctive imperfect is used to express opinions and assumptions about past events.

But whereas the subjunctive past is used with a main verb (I think, I believe, etc.) in the present tense, the subjunctive imperfect is used when the main verb (I thought, I believed, etc.) is in a past tense.

You’ll often see the subjunctive imperfect used in expressions that communicate an opinion or express a doubt about the past, such as:

Credevo che…
Era importante che…
Non immaginavo che…
Era necessario che…
Avevo paura che…

As regards the conjugation of subjunctive imperfect, here below is a regular verb from each of the main groups, then some of the more important irregular verbs.

Regular verbs

First group -are

Ballare [to dance]

io ballassi
tu ballassi
lui/lei ballasse
noi ballassimo
voi ballaste
loro ballassero

Second group -ere

Perdere [to lose]

io perdessi
tu perdessi
lui/lei perdesse
noi perdessimo
voi perdeste
loro perdessero

Third group -ire

Dormire [to sleep]

io dormissi
tu dormissi
lui/lei dormisse
noi dormissimo
voi dormiste
loro dormissero

Irregular verbs

Essere [to be]

io fossi
tu fossi
lui/lei fosse
noi fossimo
voi foste
loro fossero

Fare [to do]

io facessi
tu facessi
lui/lei facesse
noi facessimo
voi faceste
loro facessero

Stare [to stay/to remain]

io stessi
tu stessi
lui/lei stesse
noi stessimo
voi steste
loro stessero

Dare [to give]

io dessi
tu dessi
lui/lei desse
noi dessimo
voi deste
loro dessero

Dire [to say]

io dicessi
tu dicessi
lui/lei dicesse
noi dicessimo
voi diceste
loro dicessero

Here are some examples of the subjunctive imperfect (1st sentence), as contrasted with the subjunctive past (second sentence) and with rough English translations:

Veronica non credeva che fossi il fratello della sua migliore amica.
[Veronica didn’t believe that I was / you were the brother of her best friend.]
Veronica non crede che io le abbia detto la verità.
[Veronica doesn’t believe that I told her the truth.]

Avevamo creduto che non ci fosse nessuno in casa ma poi qualcuno venne alla porta.
[We thought that no one was at home but then someone came to the door.]
Crediamo che tu e Luca abbiate speso molto per comprare questa nuova casa.
[We think that you and Lucia spent a lot to buy this new house.]

Sperava che la madre non la rimproverasse per aver fatto tardi quella notte.
[She was hoping that her mother wouldn’t tell her off for having been late that night.]
Teme che sua madre l’abbia sentita mentre rientrava la scorsa notte dopo la festa a casa tua.
[She fears that her mother heard her while she was coming in last night after the party at your place.]

Era necessario che Paolo si impegnasse nello studio per non essere bocciato di nuovo.
[It was necessary for Paolo to start studying seriously so as not to be failed again.]
È necessario che tu abbia studiato molto se desideri passare l’esame di oggi.
[It’s necessary for you to have studied a lot if you want to pass today’s exam.]

Back to Italian lesson on: subjunctive imperfect

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